TRANSACTIONS 



AND 



COLLECTIONS 



VOLUME IX 



TRANSACTIONS 



AND 



COLLECTIONS 



OF THE 



American Antiquarian Society 



VOLUME IX 




PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 
1909 



i.iunugrapii 



PUBLICATION COMMITTEE : 

GEORGE HENRY HAYNES of Worcester. 
FRANKLIN P. RICE of Worcester. 
CALEB BENJAMIN TILLINGHAST of Boston. 
DELORAINE PENDRE COREY of Maiden. 



Gift 

MAR 18 1911 



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THE DIARY 

OF 

ISAIAH THOMAS 

1805-1828 

In Two Volumes 
VOLUME I 



EDITED 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 

BY 

BENJAMIN THOMAS HILL 




\Y< (RCESTER, MASS. 
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 
1909 



Wj 



i 









INTRODUCTION. 



Isaiah Thomas, the son of Moses and Fidelity Grant 
Thomas, was born in Boston, 19 January, 1749, old style. 
It is the family tradition that he was descended from Evan 
Thomas, of whom Governor YVinthrop says: — ''On the 
5th of June, 1G32, arrived in Boston the ship William and 
Francis, Mr. Thomas master, with about fifty passengers — 
whereof Mr. Welde and old Mr. Batchelor (being aged 71) 
were with their families and many other honest men." 
Evan Thomas settled in the colony of the Massachusetts 
Bay in 1639 or 1640, the earliest notice of him on the colony 
records being under the date of 1 September, 1640, when 
he ''having a wife and four children, is allowed twenty 
bushels of corne at harvest." He was a successful vintner, 
paying a yearly license, or his proportion of the ''rents of 
wine" of from twenty to forty pounds a year. He also 
seems to have dabbled in speculation. 

His grandson, Peter, the eldest son of George and Rebecca 
Thomas, was born in Boston, 1 February, 1682. He married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. George Burroughs, who was 
hung at Salem for witchcraft, for no other reason apparently, 
than that he was of small size and great strength. As a 
merchant in Boston he was prosperous, owning a stoic on the 
town dock. Moses, the fourth son of Peter, a shiftless ad- 
venturer, succeeded in nothing he attempted and was finally 
disinherited by his father after many attempts to reform him 
and set him up in business. He died in 1752, before his 
father, but the latter's will was not changed, and his widow- 
was left in destitute circumstances, with the care of her 
three youngest children. She had business ability, and, with 



,i\- American Antiquarian Society. 

the aid of friends, opened a small shop, sending her children 
into the country to hoard. She finally saved enough to 
purchase a small estate in Cambridge, which she eventually 
lost by selling it for a large price in continental currency. 

In 1755, her youngest son, Isaiah, was brought hack to 
Boston, and placed with Zechariah Fowle, a printer of 
ballads and small books; and 4 June, 1756, was apprenticed 
to him. Mr. Thomas always charged that Fowle, having 
gotten him into his power, compelled him to perform all 
-nils of menial work, in utter disregard of the terms of the 
indenture. His first trial at typesetting was upon a licen- 
tious ballad, "The Lawyers Pedigree," when he was seven 
years old, and so small that, in order to reach the type- 
boxes, he was placed on a bench eighteen inches high. This 
he finished in two days, "though he knew then only the 
letters and had not been taught to put them together and 
spell." Several years later, he cut plates on wood or type- 
metal to illustrate Fowle's ballads. During the ten or 
eleven years of his apprenticeship, he had acquired the 
elementary branches of learning, and at the age of seven- 
teen was considered an excellent workman. He loved the 
ail of printing, and his great desire was to go to England 
to perfect himself in it. 

In L765, on account of trouble with his master, Thomas 
left Boston secretly and went to Halifax, hoping to find his 
way from then 1 to London. But the means were wanting. 
lie found employment with Anthony Henry, the govern- 
ment printer, and publisher of the "Halifax Gazette." 
The latter, an indolent man who knew nothing of printing, 
let Thomas take things into his own hands, and he became 
virtually the editor of the paper. It was at the time of 
the Stamp Act, and his notions of liberty soon got him into 
trouble. Seditious articles began to appear in the "Gazette." 
I >ne day the year's stock of stamped paper for the "Gazette" 
was received from England. It was soon found that the 
Stamps had been removed, and the next issue contained 



Introduction. v 

a notice, that "all the stamped paper had been used, and 
as no more could be had, the paper would in future be 
published without stamps." A few days later the "Penn- 
sylvania Journal" arrived, in full mourning for the passage 
of the Stamp Act. Thomas wished to copy it for the 
"Gazette," but he did not dare to do it directly. As near 
an imitation as was possible was made of the Journal con- 
taining this notice: "We are desired by a number of our 
readers to give a description of the extraordinary appear- 
ance of the 'Pennsylvania Journal' of the 30th of October 
last. We can in no better way comply with their request 
than by the exemplification we have given of that 'Journal' 
in this day's 'Gazette." In one issue, death's heads 
were inserted in place of the stamps; in another the devil 
was represented in the act of thrusting his fork into the 
stamp. 

Both Henry and Thomas were several times summoned 
before the governor and council; but warnings and threats 
had no effect. Henry soon saw that he must part with his 
journeyman or give up the government business, and 
Thomas, after between six and seven months' residence 
in Halifax, went to Portsmouth, N. H. 

Mr. Thomas' own narrative of his life in Portsmouth 
has disappeared, but we have a glimpse of it in the following 
notice from the "Portsmouth Journal," which was copied in 
the Boston Courier, 13 April, 1846: — 

[From t lie Portsmouth Journal.] 
RELIC OF ISAIAH THOMAS, the historian. 

The past week, the old building belonging to Mr. Supply Ham, next east 
of the Franklin House in this town, has been remodeled. In taking up the 
chamber floor a quantity of type was found, which indicate that the room 
had, some long time ago, been used for a printing office. On removing 
the casing of one of the windows, on the top of the frame a marble covered 
memorandum book was found, covered with dust, brown with age, and 
some of the leaves decayed. <>" opening, appeared these words: 

"Isaiah Thomas His Book 1766." 
On examination it proves to be the pocket memorandum of the apprentice 
boy, kept by him from the time he left Boston, to the time he was at work 



vi American Antiquarian Society. 

in this building with Furber & Russell. It is probable that he had laid it 
over the window out of sight behind the casement, that it was forgotten 
and has there quietly rested for eighty years. Being an earlier production 
than any on record of this distinguished American historian of that art which 
is the preservative of all arts, as a matter of curiosity we copy all the record 
he makes for the six months, from the time of his hegira to his return to 
this town. 

"Left Mr. Fowle the 19th of September 1765, and sat sail the next Day 
about 10 o'clock for Halifax, and arrived there on the 24th Day about 
10 o'clock, which was just four Days from the Time I left Boston. 

Went to Mr. Henry's and engaged work with him for 3 Dollars per month 
and he to find me Boarding, Washing, <fcc. Work extremely scarce. 

Received of Mr. Anthony Henry the following Articles, viz. 



1 Pair of Broadcloth Breeches 


15 


Two pair of Stockings 


7 


1 pair of Shoes 


8 


Two Check Shirts 


16 


1 Pistereen 


1 


1 Bottle of — ,[this line, at the foot of a page, is obliterated.] 


1 


Two Dollars in Cash 


10 


To 1 yard of Black Shallon 


4 


To 1 yard of Blue Ditto 


3 9 



Halifax Currency 3 5 9 

Work'd with Mr. Henry 5 months, 3 Weeks and 3 Days. Sailed from 
Halifax the 19th day of March, 1766, and arrived at Old York the 27th 
(at Dark) of said Month. 

Work with Mr. Fowle of Portsmouth 13 Days. 

Friday, April 10, 1766. Came to work with Messrs. Furber & Russell 
for eight Dollars per month and my Board. 

Received of Messrs. Furber & Russell 5 yards & half of Black Serge at 
9 Shillings Lawful money per yard 2 9 6." 

The appearance of the paper on which he worked dis- 
closed his presence in Portsmouth to his Boston friends, 
and at the invitation of Fowle he returned, but remained 
only a short time. Notwithstanding his youth, he wished 
to set up for himself in business, and hearing that there 
was an opening for a printer in Wilmington, N. C, he went 
there. This amounted to nothing, and he next went to 
Charleston, N. C, where he remained until the spring of 
1770. 

He returned to Boston, and in partnership with Fowle, 
17 July of that year, issued, from their office in Salem 
street, the firsl number of the "Massachusetts Spy," which 
was distributed gratuitously. The size of the paper was 
8 by 12 inches, and it was published three times a week. 



Introduction. vii 

twice on a quarter sheet and once on a half. Three months 
later, Mr. Thomas bought Fowle's interest, moved his 
office to School street, and changed the publication to twice 
a week, each on a half sheet. After continuing it in this 
form for three months longer, he discontinued it and pre- 
pared for the publication of a larger newspaper than had 
been printed in Boston before. This appeared 7 March, 
1771, from his new office on Union street. It started with 
less than two hundred subscribers, but the number rapidly 
increased after the first week. In two years it had the 
largest circulation of any paper in Boston. 

The "Spy" soon became a power in the Massachusetts 
Bay, and some of the ablest writers in the colony contrib- 
uted to its columns. Its bold and defiant tone drew 
widespread attention to the printer; and while the paper 
was being burned by the common hangman in North Caro- 
lina, and Mr. Thomas burned in effigy, applications came 
from the whigs in all parts of the country, to set up presses. 

The hostility of the loyalists toward him was extreme; 
he was frequently threatened with violence, his name was 
placed on the list of the suspected, and his office was known 
as the "sedition factory. " He was one of the most patriotic 
of the Sons of Liberty; meetings were often held in his 
office, and he worked far into the night printing handbills 
to be posted throughout the town before morning. So 
frequent did the threats against him become, that a few 
days before the Battle of Lexington, his friends insisted 
on his keeping in retirement; and he went to Concord to 
consult with Hancock and the leading members of the Pro- 
vincial Congress. 

In 1774 the Whigs of Worcester had urged Mr. Thomas 
to start a paper there. He consented to do so early in 
1775, and in February had issued a proposal for publishing 
"The Worcester Gazette; or American Oracle of Liberty." 
Though he had not intended to give up his Boston press, 
the early outbreak of hostilities rendered this necessary. 



viii American Antiquarian Society. 

He went back to Boston, packed up his presses and types, 
and on the 16th of April, with the aid of Gen. Joseph Warren 
and Colonel Timothy Bigelow, " stole them out of town in 
the dead of night," and sent them ahead to Worcester. 
He remained behind, assisted in giving the alarm on the 
night of the 18th, and was actively engaged in the fight 
on the following day. 

He arrived in Worcester on the 20th, and set up his 
press in the cellar of Colonel Bigelow's house. After a 
suspension of three weeks, the "Spy" reappeared in 
Worcester, May 3rd, 1775. Here he also did all the 
printing for the Provincial Congress, until presses were set 
up in Cambridge and Watertown. Upon the pamphlet, 
"A Narrative of the Excursions and Ravages of the King's 
Troops under the Command of General Gage, on the nine- 
teenth of April, 1775," etc., printed by order of the Provin- 
cial Congress, is a note in his own handwriting: "This 
was the first printing done in Worcester, Mass." 

We have no connected record of Mr. Thomas' life during 
the Revolution. In the latter part of 1774, with William 
Goddard of Baltimore, John Holt of New York, and Thad- 
deus Burr of Fairfield, Conn., he had established a line of 
post -riders from Boston to Baltimore. In May, 1775, on 
the establishment of a temporary system of post-riders 
and post offices by the Provincial Congress, lie was appointed 
postmaster at Worcester; in the fall of that year, when a 
regular post office department for all the colonies was 
created, Franklin again selected him and his successors 
renewed the commission until he was removed by Jefferson 
in 1802. 

In 177(> and 1777 he leased the "Spy" and went to Salem, 
intending to start in business there; but financial difficulties 
prevented this. During these two years his family were 
living in Londonderry, N. H., but his own movements are 
unknown, with the exception that, while on a visit to Wor- 
cester, in July, 177(i, he read (lie Declaration of Independ- 



Introduction. ix 

ence from the top of the porch of the Old South Church.* 
In the spring of 1778, Mr. Thomas resumed the publication 
of the "Spy/' which came out in a new form. 

Though the disordered state of the country when he 
returned made it a hard time to begin business anew, he 
gained ground slowly but surely. The circulation of the 
"Spy" was extended, and he did a little job printing. After 
the peace of 1783, his business rapidly increased. The 
"Spy" appeared in new type and on better paper, and was 
enlarged to five columns; besides the news, it published the 
whole of Robertson's History of America, Gordon's History 
of the Revolution, and other British publications, which 
made it more valuable than any other paper in Massachu- 
sctts. From March, 1780, to March, 1788, on account of 
a stamp duty on newspapers, it was changed to magazine 
form and called the ''Worcester Magazine."! 

He built a large paper-mill at Quinsigamond in 1793 
(the second in the county), and established an extensive 
bindery. With his partners he controlled sixteen presses, 
constantly employed, seven of them in Worcester. He 
had five book-stores in Massachusetts, one in Concord, 
N. H., one in Albany, and one in Baltimore. In 1788 he 
established a printing and bookselling business with Eben- 
ezer T. Andrews, at the sign of Faust's head, in Newbury 
street, Boston, which continued until 1822; but his principal 

*' The first time the Declaration of Independence was read in Massachusetts was 
at Worcester by Isaiah Thomas, Esq., who is now living, and participated in the 
late celebration. It was read from the top of the Portico of the S. Meeting-house 
— "New England Palladium," Boston, July 7, 1826. 

A bronze tablet in front of the City Hall now marks this spot. 

t The other newspapers and magazines published by Mr. Thomas were: "The 
Essex Gazette," at Newburyport in 1773; the "Royal American Magazine." in 
January, 1774; the "Farmer's Museum. " at Walpole, N. H., in 1793; the "Farmer's 
Journal, " at Brookfield, Mass., in 1799; and the firm of Thomas & Andrews published 
the "Massachusetts Magazine, "from 1783 to 1795, illustrated with engravings, 
which was very popular, and had a wide circulation. The last year he was in Boston 
he published "Thomas' New England Almanac, or the Massachusetts Calendar for 
tin' year of our Lord Christ 1775." This he continued to publish until 1803. 



x American Antiquarian Society. 

establishment remained in Worcester. At the "Worcester 
Book-store" he always had a large stock of the publications 
of the day, and the lists as published in his catalogues and 
in the "Spy" would make no inconsiderable showing at 
the present time. For instance, in the "Spy" of March 
3rd, 178"), he publishes a list containing fifty-five works on 
divinity: fifteen on medicine; eleven of history, biography, 
geography and travels; thirty-one of novels, miscellanies 
and poetry; twenty-six classical and school-books; and six 
dictionaries. 

He became one of the largest publishers of his time on 
either side of the Atlantic. His work, remarkable for its 
elegance and accuracy, caused Brissot de Warville, the 
famous Girondist leader, to write of him in his travels in the 
United States in 1788: "Thomas is leDidot des Etats-lnis;" 
and Franklin spoke of him as the Baxkerville of America. 

Some idea of the extent of his publications may be gained 
from Dr. Charles Lemuel Nichols' recent "Bibliography 
of Worcester," which gives nearly three hundred titles of 
books and pamphlets bearing his Worcester imprint alone. 
Among these the most important, perhaps, are the folio 
edition of the Bible (1791), which contains fifty copper 
plates and which, with the quarto edition, was carried 
through in a little more than twelve months; the "Laus 
Deo! The Worcester Collection of Sacred Harmony" - 
(1786), upon a copy of which Christopher Columbus Bald- 
win has written: "I believe this is the first specimen of 
music printed from types in this country. Before this it 
had been engraved:" and "Perry's Royal Standard English 
Dictionary," of which Mr. Thomas states in his dedication. 
"the first work of the kind printed in America." 

In 1802 he relinquished his business in Worcester to his 
son, Isaiah Thomas, Jr. He retired to private life, and de- 
voted his time to the realization of two designs, which he had 
planned formally years: "A History of Printing in America" 
.■Hid the founding of the American Antiquarian Society. 



Introduction. xi 

Mr. Thomas died 4 April, 1831, at the age of eighty-two, 
and was buried in the plain hut massive tomb he had built 
in the Mechanics street burying-ground. When this bury- 
ing-ground was removed, in 1878, the tomb was rebuilt 
in the Rural Cemetery, and his remains were placed there 
with Masonic ceremonies, in the presence of the members 
of the family, of the city government, and of the American 
Antiquarian Society. 

In his personal appearance, Mr. Thomas is described by 
his contemporaries as being tall, slender and well formed, 
stooping slightly in his gait; courteous and frank in con- 
versation, but somewhat conventional; singularly precise 
and studied in his dress, and fashionable to a fault. In 
his later years, he wore a blue broadcloth coat, lined with 
red, and small clothes. 

After he built his mansion, he lived in some state, and 
entertained with great liberality. He was the first in Wor- 
cester to keep a carriage, and had a colored coachman in 
livery. Many of his journeys were made with his own 
coach and four. 

When Mr. Thomas first came to Worcester, he is said to 
have lived in a small, one-story, red house, on the southerly 
side of Pleasant street, nearly on the site of High, known 
as the Fullerton-AYarden house, which was removed when 
the latter street was opened. 

A short time after the Revolution, he built his house on 
Court Hill, which was afterward his home. It stood but 
a short distance back from the street, with a high and, for 
the time, quite an elaborate fence before it. On the north, 
was a small, square, one-story building, once his printing 
office, which he used for his counting room and business 
office, after his retirement. It was later occupied by his 
coachman; and about the year 1838, was bought by the 
Proprietors of Rural Cemetery, and, with the addition of 
a French roof, still stands opposite the cemetery grounds, 
where it is occupied by the superintendent. Between this 



xii American Antiquarian Society. 

building and the Court House, a little lane led up the hill 
to sonic cottages, which seemed to belong to Mr. Thomas* 
estate, as did also the house which still stands, much altered, 
back of the Unitarian Church. To the south of the house, 
where the church now stands, was the "Spy" printing office, 
a long, low building. All of these buildings were painted 
yellow. At that time there was a middle road between 
Court Hill and Main street, and two flights of wooden steps 
led to the street before the ;house. 

Judge Thomas' advertisement for the sale of the estate, 
in March, 1835, says: — ''This estate is beautifully and con- 
veniently located, and has upon it a good Mansion-house, 
stables, and other out-buildings. There are connected 
with it an excellent garden and orchard. The front upon 
Main street is two hundred feet, giving on both sides of the 
mansion house excellent house lots." 

Entering the house through the small front porch, which 
is still preserved in its original position, one came into a 
long, narrow entry (for it was not large enough to be called 
a hall), just wide enough for the door to be opened. Directly 
in front was the staircase, running around three walls. This 
had two landings, and its balustrades and pillars were 
elaborately carved. Back of the stairway, and nearly in 
the centre of the house, was the chimney, immense, even 
for those days, in which several people could sit with per- 
fect ease. The room leading from the right was a parlor, 
square furnished with wainscoting and cornice, and with 
window seats built into each of the three windows. The 
walls of this room were hung with cordovan leather, painted 
in landscape, and fastened at the top and bottom. The 
ceiling was painted sky blue, with silver stars, and with 
a large ostrich egg in the centre. 

Beyond the parlor, entered through a small porch in 
front of the north wing of the house, was a long, narrow 
room, which was probably Mr. Thomas' library, the western 
end of the room being filled with arched shelves. For 



Introduction. xiii 

eight years, until Mr. Thomas built and gave to the society 
its hall on Summer street, this room served as the first home 
for the collection of the American Antiquarian Society. 

Behind the parlor was the dining-room, and directly 
back of the chimney was the kitchen with its enormous 
oven and fireplace. To the left of the hall was another 
parlor, similar to the one on the right. 

Mr. Thomas kept his diary in his interleaved almanacs, 
which are bound and in the library of the society. It 
covers the period from January, 1805 to December, 1828, 
inclusive, with the exception of the year 1808, in which 
there are no entries. The fact that it ends on the day 
before that of Christopher Columbus Baldwin's begins, and 
that there is a marked similarity in the character of the 
entries, would seem to indicate that it had been planned 
between them that the one should be the continuation of 
the other. But Mr. Thomas' interests were far more wide- 
spread than those of Mr. Baldwin, and his entries not so 
closely confined to mere local matters. 

Unfortunately it does not cover the period of his business 
life, of which we know comparatively little. The only 
entries in the earlier almanacs are these short ones: — 

1796. 
May 3. Went a journey to Hartford, Newyork, Philadelphia ami Baltimore. 
July 1. Returned from Baltimore. 

Oct. 11. Went a journey to Northfield and constituted Harmony Lodge and 
installed the Master, Solomon Vose, Esq r . the IS" 1 delivered Charge, &c in puhlick. 

14. Went to Walpole & returned the 17" 1 — 19 th went to Boston with Mrs. Thomas. 

1797. 
Printed 29,000 Almanacks for this year. 

2 d Aug', proposed Installation at Monson. I consecrated and installed at Monson. 
9 th Thomas Lodge and Installation at Groton. 

15. Morning Star — Worcester. 

16 th Moriah <fr Morning Star Lodges in Connecticut. 
Sept. 27. Went to Boston. 

28. Went to Newhuryport. It Arch with Mrs. Thomas. 
Oct. 2. Returned to Boston. 
5. do to Worcester. 



xiv American Antiquarian Society. 

But in a way the period covered by the diary is more 
important than that preceding. It was the time of internal 
improvements, and of the awakening of the manufacturing 
and industrial interests of New England. In many of 
these Mr. Thomas took an active part, and their inception 
and development are given in sonic detail. Among them 
are the Boston and Worcester Turnpike, of which he was 
one of the first directors and, I think, the only one outside 
of Boston. He was also one of the corporators and for 
eleven years a director of the Worcester Bank, then the 
only banking institution between Boston and Pittsfield: 
and one of the original members of the Second Parish, 
and always active in its affairs. 

Mr. Thomas was prominent as a Mason, was the founder 
of Morning Star Lodge, in Worcester, and its first master. 
For two terms he was Grand Master of the Grand 
Lodge of Massachusetts. He describes many of their 
ceremonies and festivals, and among them two of especial 
interest; — the laying of the corner-stone of the Massachu- 
setts General Hospital, in 1818, and that of Bunker Hill 
Monument, by Lafayette, in 1825. 

But perhaps the most interesting feature is the picture 
it gives of his own social and domestic life; his narrative 
of local affairs, forming the only connected record of such 
events which we possess; his boundless hospitality, and 
the people whom he entertained and met: his connection 
with the various societies to which lie belonged; his frequent 
journeys in the New England states; and those minor details 
which went to make up his daily existence 

BENJAMIN THOMAS HILL. 

OCTOHKR 1, 1909. 



DIARY OF ISAIAH THOMAS. 



January, 1805. 
7. Direct at the Bank this week. 1 

11. Marianne came from Brookfield. 

12. Returned to do. Company to dine. 
19. Dined with S. Chandler. 2 



1 At a meeting of the Directors of the Worcester Bank. 16 October. 1804, it was 
voted: — "That the Directors preside at the Bank & superintend the business of 
each particular week, commencing on Tuesday in the following order, viz.: For 
the first week Sam 1 Chandler, 2 a Sam' Flagg, 3* Benj* Heywood, 4' h Nath 1 Paine, 
5 th Theoph s Wheeler, 6 th Isaiah Thomas." The chief duty of the directors in this 
capacity was to hold daily consultations with the president and cashier concern- 
ing the discount and loans, a custom which was continued to comparatively 
recent times. 

2 Samuel Chandler, son of John Chandler the Refugee, and Mary Church Chand- 
ler, lived for many years with his brother Charles, on the old Chandler farm, 
which extended along the westerly side of Main street, covering almost the entire 
plain south of Pleasant to beyond the May street hills. Always among the fore- 
most in the social life of the town, their old farmhouse, which stood on the site 
of the present Ethan Allen house, between Wellington and Piedmont streets, was 
noted for its hospitality, especially to strangers. They were men of great wealth 
and enterprise, and their farm of nearly four hundred acres was one of the largest 
and richest in Worcester. 

Upon the marriage of Charles in 1796, Samuel removed to another farm of 
several hundred acres, which they owned at the north end of the village, which in- 
cluded the site of the old gas works on Lincoln street, and extended east on both 
sides of Belmont street to Bell Pond, and south as far as the Insane Hospital. Upon 
this farm was his father's old mansion-house, which still stands cm the easterly 
side of Lincoln square, a little north of its original position. The farmhouse which 
he built for himself at this time, and occupied until his death in 1813, was later 
a part of the house of Edward Earle. The two brothers were partners as mer- 
chants in English and West India g Is, and were large manufacturers of pearl 

and pot ashes, not only in Worcester, but in various towns in Vermont and Canada, 
where they also had large stores for general merchandise. 

[Born, Worcester, 25 February. 1757. Died, Woodstock, 26 October, 1813. j 

1 



•> American Antiquarian Society. 

24. Went to Harvard, with Mrs. Thomas, Eliza 1 and 

Miss Weld. 

26. Returned. 

27. Violent storm begun of snow which lasted 3 days. 

February, 1805. 

12. Direct at the Bank this week. 

14. Blakes, booksellers failed This week. 2 

20. Miss Weld went to Boston with Isa. 3 Direct at the 
Bank this week for S. Chandler, absent. 

25. Isa. returned from Boston. 

March, 1805. 

5. Annual Fast. 

9. Went to Boston in the Stage. 

11. Grand L[odge]. 

14. Returned in the Stage to Worcester. 



1 Elizabeth Mary, the daughter of Mr. Thomas's brother Peter, of South Ilcnin- 
sted, Long Island, had been adopted by her uncle when a child. She was married, 
5 December, 1811, to Stephen Thayer Soper, of Boston, and died at Braintree, 
Mass., 12 July, 1813. 

- W. P. & L. Blake at "The Boston Book-store, No. 1, Cornhill." 

3 Isaiah Thomas, Jr., the only son of Mr. Thomas, after receiving his education 
in the schools of Boston and Worcester, entered into business with his father in 
Worcester, and succeeded him in 1802. He had a publishing house on Court II ill 
where the Unitarian Church now stands, while his bookstore and house were on the 
opposite side of the street. From 1802 to lsoo he was the publisher of the Massa- 
chusetts Spy. In the latter year he removed his business to Boston, having his 
store on Cornhill and branches in various places. lie was an extensive publisher 
and carried on a successful business until the war of 1812, when he met with losses 
from which he never fully recovered. 

In 171)7 he married Mary, daughter of Edward Weld, of Boston, by whom ho had 
twelve children, six sons and six daughters. 

[Born. Boston, 5 September, 1773. Died, Boston, 25 June, 1819. j 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 3 

April, 1805. 

1. Attended at the Bank this week. 

5. Annual Fast. 

11. Went to Boston. 

13. Returned to Worcester. 

15. Hired two Surveyors and went with them to sur- 
vey the Land E. 1° North for a turnpike road to Boston 1 — 
crossed the hills and Long pond 2 over to Shrewsbury on 
a direct line 3| miles from Worcester Bridge, 3 and returned 
home the same line back — a good road can be made. 



1 In February, 1805, a petition was presented to the General Court by Aaron 
Davis and one hundred and forty-five others, stating "that the great road or high- 
way leading from Boston to Worcester is extremely crooked, hilly and in many 
places, narrow and inconvenient — that the present and most direct way from 
Boston is through Cambridge, Watertown, Waltham, Westown, Sudbury, Marl- 
borough, Northborough and Shrewsbury, into Worcester; whereas, after a careful 
view and survey of the true situation, and course, to Worcester, the most 
direct and nearest way will be found to be by opening a road from the 
Southerly part of Boston, through Roxbury, Brooklyn, Newton, Needham, 
Natick, Framingham, Southborough, Westborough, and the southerly corner of 
Shrewsbury, into Worcester; — that by a road in this direction your Petitioners 
verily believe a saving between eight and ten miles in the distance between Boston 
and Worcester might be made; that this route would be pursued mostly over 
very level ground, and would avoid the very many and difficult hills which are 
a great impediment to the travel on the old road." The petition also stated that 
a like saving might be made on the roads from Worcester to Hartford and towards 
Pittsfield and Albany, and asked for an act of incorporation for a turnpike road 
"in such a direction as near a straight line to Western Bridge as your Honors in 
your wisdom shall deem fit, and to grant them such reasonable toll thereon as 
shall be thought adequate and proper for such an undertaking." 

A similar petition was presented at the same time by Asa Nickols and forty- 
three others. 9 March, Hugh M'Clallen, William Ely and Moses Brown were 
appointed a legislative committee to view the respective routes, or any others 
as the most direct route from Boston to Western Bridge, at the expense of the 
petitioners, to hear the parties and report their opinion whether any turnpike road 
was necessary and expedient, and if any, which route would best accommodate 
the public. 

See also entry and note, 30 October, 1S06. 

2 Lake Quinsigamond. 

3 The bridge at Lincoln square. 



4 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Surveyors arrived, who are measuring the old Road 
from Roxbury Watertown and from Cambridge, through 
Sudbury, Marlboro', Northboro', and on to Western. 1 

23. My brother visited us, with his daughter Mrs. Ball, 2 
the latter to tarry 3 or 4 weeks. 

24. Gentlemen from Roxbury arrived. 

25. Surveyors arrived from Roxbury — Went out to 
meet them — they crossed Long Pond at a little distance, 
say 30 rods from where I crossed it last week; they came 
in a direct line from the School house in Roxbury to Worces- 
ter Court house, were 6 days on the rout — distance from 
Boston about 37 h miles. 

28. Surveyors from Cambridge arrived — on a direct line 
from West Boston Bridge to Worcester Court house — Sat 
off from Cambridge Wednesday morning — arrived early 
this morning. 

30. Went to Western to meet the Court's Com ue . and 
others, with the Agents from Roxbury to Survey the road, 
and find a better rout from Western to Worcester. 

May, 1805. 

1. Went up the Mountain near to and about S. AY. 
from Western Bridge. Gen'l Court's Com oe . arrived in the 
afternoon; sat off a little before Sun down and all arrived 
at the "West Parish in Brookfield— I went to the S° Parish 

:iik1 lodged. 

2. Returned to Worcester, accompanied by M 1 '. Bangs 3 
and my daughter. 

1 Warren. 

J Mary, daughter of Joshua and Mary Turing Thomas of Lancaster, was born, 25 
November, 1778. She was twice married, first, 1 December, 1796, to Dr. Nahum 
Kail; and 17 June, 1812, to Calvin Willard, then of Petersham and afterwards of 
\\ orcester. 

Edward Bangs, the son of Benjamin Bangs, of Harwich, Mass., was graduated 
from Harvard in 1777 and then studied law with Theophilus Parsons, in Newbury- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 5 

3. Gen'l Court's Com ee &c. arrived at Worcester at 
one "Clock — we had prepared for them a very handsome 
dinner at Johnson's Tavern l — Marianne returned to Brook- 
field. 

4. The Com' &c. sat off from the Court house, on 
a course East 1 degree north to Bladder pond 2 — thence 
about due E. & W. to the Long pond, on a resurvey for 
a road to Roxbury. We parted with the Com 00 &c. &c. 
at the Long Pond. — 

7. Marianne married to D r . Simmons. 3 

8. Began business in the house built for a Bank. 4 



port, being a fellow student of his classmate Rufus King. He was admitted to the 
bar in 1780, and for a short time practiced with William Stearns in Worcester, and 
in 1805 formed a partnership with William E. Green. From 1802 to 1811 he repre- 
sented Worcester in the General Court, and was County Attorney from 1S07 to 1811, 
when he was made an associate Justice of the Circuit Court, of Common Pleas for 
the Western Circuit, an office which he held until his death. While in college he 
fought with the college company on the nineteenth of April, 1775, and later, (luring 
Shays's Rebellion he joined General Lincoln's army as a volunteer, and during this 
campaign the exposure and hardships he was compelled to endure so impaired his 
health that he never fully recovered. 

[Born, Harwich, Mass., 5 September, 1756. Died, Worcester, 28 June, 1818.] 
1 The Exchange Hotel was at this time kept by Samuel Johnson. 
-' Bell Pond. 

3 Marianne, or Mary Ann Thomas was the eldest child of Mr. Thomas by his 
first wife, Mary Dill. She had been twice before married, first to James Hutchins, 
and then to Mather. 

4 Before this building was completed, the business of the Worcester Bank was un- 
doubtedly transacted in the counting house of Daniel Waldo, Jr. 

"At a meeting of a Number of Gentlemen at Barker's tavern (Exchange Hotel) 
in Worcester, 18 December, 1803 — 

"Isaiah Thomas, Esq r . being chosen Moderator. — 

"Voted, That it is the sense of the Gentlemen present that it would be advan- 
tageous to the County of Worcester to have a Bank established at Worcester." 

Benjamin Heywood, Francis Blake, Isaiah Thomas, Dr. William Paine and Daniel 
Waldo, Jr., were appointed a Committee to superintend the subscriptions, pre- 
pare a petition to the General Court, etc.; and on 21 December, it. was announced 
in the Massachusetts Spy and the National sEgis under the heading "A Country 
Bank" that "an association of gentlemen belonging to the town of Worcester, 
having contemplated the advantages which would accrue to the agricultural, com- 
mercial and mechanical interests of the county from the establishment of a bank 



6 American Antiquarian Society. 

10. Went to Boston, with Eliza, Hannah Frazier and 
Levi. 

20. Eliza returned to Worcester accompanied by Miss 
R. Armstrong. 



in the town of Worcester," had appointed a committee to invite subscriptions from 
the citizens of the county, and that books would be opened at Mr. Barker's tav- 
ern in Worcester on the first Tuesday in January. The response to this call was 
so liberal that one hundred and eighty-three subscribers applied for a total of two 
thousand, six hundred and twelve shares. These were reduced to fifteen hundred 
and the capital stock was fixed at $150,000.00 instead of $100,000.00 as was at 
first contemplated. 

On 3 January, 1804, Daniel Waldo, Jr., Isaiah Thomas and Francis Blake were 
appointed to present a petition to the General Court for an act of incorporation, 
and on 7 March, the charter was granted: — "An Act to incorporate Daniel Waldo 
and others by the name and stile of the President, Directors & Company of the 
WORCESTER BANK." The other corporators were Daniel Waldo, St., Stephen 
Salisbury, Nathan Patch, William Henshaw, Nathaniel Paine and Elijah Bur- 
bank. At the first meeting of the stockholders, 10 April, Daniel Waldo, Benjamin 
Heywood, Samuel Flagg, Isaiah Thomas, Daniel Waldo, Jr., Theophilus Wheeler 
and Samuel Chandler were elected directors. Daniel Waldo was the first president, 
but was succeeded by his son in the following October. The first cashier was Levi 
Thaxter. At the same meeting Dr. William Paine, Samuel Brazer, Ephraim 
Mower, Dr. Oliver Fiske and John Farrar were appointed a committee "to enquire 
where a spot can be had for a Banking house, and exhibit a plan for a suitable 
Building, with an estimate for the expence, and report the same at the adjourn- 
ment." Acting upon the recommendation of this committee, on 20 April, it was 

"Voted 1 st . That the Lot of Land belonging to Cap'. Dan 1 . Heywood opposite 
to land owned by Nathaniel Paine, Esq r . situate on the maine street in Worcester, 
stated to contain one hundred and twenty-six rods, a plan of which was presented 
by the Committee, be purchased by the President & Directors for the Corporation 
at the price and upon the terms proposed by said Heywood to the Committee. 

"Voted 2 1 . That the Directors be hereby authorized and directed to build a house 
of Brick, that will accommodate a Family & answer for banking purposes; to be 
of such a form and size as they may judge to be most for the Interest of the Stock- 
holders, conforming however to the outline of the plan exhibited by the Committee 
so far as may consist with convenience; the same to be erected in the Lot of Land 
to be purchased of Cap'. Daniel Heywood." 

The Directors decided that the building should be of brick, three stories high, 
with two belts of marble in the front; and Mr. Thomas was appointed to apply 
to Charles Bulfinch for drafts of the interior and exterior and to obtain of a brick- 
layer in Boston a calculation of the quantity of bricks and lime which would be 
wanted; he was also empowered to procure the marble provided that the expense 
did not exceed one dollar per foot. Before the completion of this building the 
directors met at the Exchango Hotel [known both as "Barker's Tavern," and 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 7 

22. Mrs. T. came from Worcester to Boston, accom- 
panied by Miss R. Armstrong l and Mrs. Bancroft, 2 with 
Levi & Charles. 

31. Sat off for Walpole N. H. 3 by way of Townsend. 



"Rice's Inn, at the sign of the Golden Ball,"] at Heywood's Tavern [the Central 
Hotel], and at Daniel Waldo's store. 

The new building was first used for a meeting of the directors 6 October, 1804. 

The Massachusetts Spy of 12 February, 1806, contained the advertisement that 
there was "To be leased and entered upon the first of April next — That Superb 
Brick Edifice connected with the Bank in Worcester. — This elegant building is 
three stories high and contains two Kitchens, two Parlors, and thirteen Chambers, 
with a handsome Piazza the whole extent of one wing. A convenient Woodhouse, 
including a well and other necessary appendages connected with it. It is accom- 
modated with a well finished Barn, sufficiently large both for a Carriage house and 
for Stabling; — also with land sufficient for a spacious Yard and Kitchen Garden. 

"This seat is calculated either for the Gentleman, who wishes to retire to the 
country to enjoy his fortune, or for the man of business, whose object is to increase 
it in a flourishing town, second to none on the continent, of an inland situation, 
for its enterprize, industry and growth. From the size and central situation of 
this building, it is also extremely well calculated for a Hotel, or genteel Boarding- 
house." This was occupied by Daniel Waldo, Jr., until he built his mansion to 
the south of the bank, on the site of Mechanics Hall. The north part of the first 
floor was afterwards used as the Post-office. 

The building was occupied by the bank until its destruction by fire 6 March, 1843. 

1 Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Armstrong, 10 August, 1819. 

2 Lucretia, the daughter of John Chandler the Refugee, and Mary Church 
Chandler, was married 24 October, 1786, to Rev. Aaron Bancroft. 

[Born, Worcester, 9 June, 1765. Died, Worcester, 27 April, 1839.] 

:! In April, 1793, Mr. Thomas formed a partnership with David Carlisle, Jr., a 
former apprentice in Worcester, and opened a printing office and bookstore in Wal- 
pole, N. H., Mr. Thomas furnishing the press, types and a large stock of books, 
while Carlisle had the general management of the business. In the same month 
they began the publication of The New Hampshire Journal, which had a good literary 
standing from the beginning, and which soon had a large circulation in New Hamp- 
shire and in the towns of Vermont, opposite Walpole, on the Connecticut River. 
At the beginning of the second year the title of the paper was changed to The New 
Hampshire and Vermont Journal, or Farmers Weekly Museum; and in 1795, Joseph 
Dennie, later the sole editor of the paper and subsequently of the Portfolio, in Phila- 
delphia, began to write a series of letters called "The Lay Preacher," which were 
republished in nearly all the newspapers of the country. These letters, with con- 
tributions from other well known writers of the time, gave the paper such a prom- 
inent position that its subscription list was larger than that of any other in the 
interior of the country. Its circulation extended from Maine to Georgia, and an 



8 American Antiquarian Society. 

June, 1805. 

1. Arrived at Walpole. 

3. Wont to the Falls. 

4. Left Walpole for Worcester. 

5. Arrived at Worcester at 10 "Clock in the forenoon. 
Mr. Penniman & family arrived there same day and dined 
with me. 1 Arrived at Boston from Worcester. 

11. Went to Worcester with Miss Hannah Weld and 
Miss Phillips. 

13. Mr. Andrews went to Philadelphia. 

17. Returned to Boston with Miss H. Weld. 

24. Went to Concord to celebrate feast of St. John. 
4 Lodges met. Isa. came from Worcester. 

27. Mrs. Thomas went to Worcester with Miss Lydia 
Bass in the Coachee. 2 



extra bag was required for the subscribers in New York. Philadelphia, Charleston 
and the intervening cities. 

In the spring of 1796 Mr. Thomas retired from the firm, and Carlisle became 
nominally the sole proprietor of the paper. In April, 1797, the title was again 
changed to The Farmers Weekly Museum: A r ew Hampshire and Vermont Journal; 
but in less than a year Carlisle's financial embarrassments compelled him to flee 
to Canada, and the paper again fell into the hands of Mr. Thomas, the business 
being conducted by Alexander Thomas. In October, 1801, it was temporarily 
disposed of to David Newhall, under whose management its size was reduced. 
Two years later Thomas & Thomas again resumed its publication, and in 1804 it 
was again enlarged and its second title dropped; but with the loss of its correspon- 
dents the spirit of the paper was gone and it had nothing to distinguish it from 
many others in New England. In March, 1807, its publication was suspended, 
but was again revived in October, 1808, by Thomas t v Thomas and Cheever Felch, 
and in the following July, the latter became the sole publisher and editor. — 
See entry and note 14 September, 1809. 

1 Obadiah Penniman was a partner in the firm of Thomas, Andrews & Penniman, 
which Thomas & Andrews had established in Albany, in 1796. 

-• Weld, in his "Travels," 1795-7, says:— 

"The coachee is a carriage peculiar, I believe, to America; the body of it is 
rather longer than that of a coach, but of the same shape. In the front it is loft 
quite open down to the bottom, and the driver sits on a bench under the roof of 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. !» 

29. Eliza came from Worcester with Miss Seaver in the 
Phaeton. Mr. Andrews returned from Philadelphia. 

July, 1805. 

4. Independence — highly celebrated excellent Fire 
works in the Evening;. 

5. Wm. Caldwell, Esq— died. 1 

13. Levi went to Worcester on horseback. 

15. Levi returned from Worcester with the Coachee. 

24. Went to Worcester with Eliza — H. Frazier & Miss 
P. Sever; 2 Shut up the House in Boston. 

29. Went on the Long Pond. 

August, 1805. 

5. Sent the Coachee to Boston, to carry down Mrs. 
Thomas, jun r . and two children and Miss Lydia Bass. 



the carriage. There are two seats in it for the passengers, who sit with their faces 
towards the horses. The roof is supported by small props, which are placed at 
the corners. On each side of the doors, above the pannels, it is quite open, and 
to guard against bad weather there are curtains, which are made to let down from 
the roof, and fasten to buttons placed for the purpose on the outside. There is 
also a leathern curtain to hang occasionally between the driver and passengers." 
Mr. Thomas generally made his journeys in New England in his own carriage, 
and often with coach and four. He is said to have been the first person in Worces- 
ter to have a colored coachman in livery. 

1 William Caldwell. Sheriff of Worcester County, was graduated from Harvard 
College in 1773, at the age of twenty. He was one of the nine members of the Rar 
of Worcester County who were admitted during the Revolution, among the others 
being Levi Lincoln, Dwight Foster, William Sever and Nathaniel Paine. After 
his admission in 1781, he opened an office in Rutland, where he practiced until 
his appointment as Sheriff, in 1793, after which he removed to Worcester. He 
owned and occupied the Gardiner Chandler house, with a large farm connected 
with it. 

[Rom, Rutland, Mass.. 1753.] 

2 Penelope Winslow, the daughter of William and Mary Chandler Sever, was 
married, 6 September, 1807, to Levi Lincoln, Jr. 

[Rorn, Worcester. 21 July, 17SG. Died, Worcester, 2 April, 1N72.] 



10 American Antiquarian Society. 

7. Levi returned from Boston with the Coachee, and 
brought u]) Miss H. Weld. 

10. Laid out a new Channel for the Brook to run in 
through my medow adjoining the Street. 1 

11. Violent gust, rain heavy thunder — the Lightning- 
struck the new Court [House] on the pediment in front, 
broke the glass on the south side, and splintered and broke 
the front door. 

12. Began digging a canal in the Medow. Sold 3 from 
Lots on the Street. 

13. Mrs. Thomas & Eliza went to Harvard. 

14. Mrs. Thomas & Eliza returned. — Went with Miss 
Weld to meet her — dined at Beman's 2 with Miss Weld. 

15. Sold another Lot on Street. 

16. Sold another Lot — do. 

22. Cleared out the Brook with 2 men. 

23. Do. 

24. Do. Mrs. (William) Caldwell died. 

25. Do. 

2G. Mrs. Caldwell buried— was a Pall holder. 
27. Bank 900 dols. 

September, 1S05. 

7. Went to Boston with Eliza. & II. Frazier & Levi. 
Opened house in Boston. 

9. G. Lodge. 



1 The meadow bordering Mill brook between Main and Summer streets. 

* This old tavern, in the lower village of West Boylston, which lias recently been 
removed to make way for the Metropolitan Water Basin, was built by Major Ezra 
Beaman in 17f>4. It is a rather remarkable fact that it was kept as a tavern by 
two Kzra Heamans, father and son, for about a century. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 11 

11. Returned to Worcester with Eliza, H. Frazier & 
Levi, and shut up house in Boston. 

21. Finished stoning Canal. Sold Lot No 3, on the Old 
street, and N. W. Canal Lot to M r . Pratt for 800 dols. 
Aurora Borealis. 

25. Began a drain to the Cellar of the house behind 
Court house. 

30. Foundations for houses begun on the Front Lots 
of the Medow. 

October, 1805. 

2. Finished Drain. 

3. Attend under pinning of the South wing of Mansion 
house. 

4. Laid out new Street on the Medow and house Lots. 
Mrs. T. went to Boston in the Chariot l with Miss H. Weld, 
Hannah Frazier, Levi & Charles. 

5. Levi returned from Boston. 

7. Went to Boston with Eliza — Charlotte went with 
us in the Coachee. 

8. Mrs. C. Armstrong died this morning. 



1 "A Chariot or //a//-COACH is a kind of coach that has only a seat behind, 
with a stool, at most, before. When these are very gay, richly garnished, and 
have five glasses, they are called CALASHES." — Rees' Cyclopaedia. 

Alice Morse Karle in her "Stage Coach and Tavern Days" describes the chariot of 
John Brown, the founder of Brown University, in which Washington went from 
place to place when he visited Rhode Island in 1790, and which is still preserved 
on the family estate in Warwick, R. I. 

The body, which resembles somewhat that of a modern coupe, is suspended on 
heavy thorough-braces, attached to heavy iron holders as large as a man's wrist, 
the forward ones so curved as to allow the forward wheels to pass under them, 
in order that the chariot may be turned within a short compass. The wheels are 
heavy, the hind ones twice the height of the forward ones, the tires of which are 
attached to the felloes in several distinct pieces. 



12 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Went to Plymouth — accompanied by Several Officers 
of the G. L. Mrs. Russell rode with me. My Grandson 
died at Worcester this morning aged about 10 months. 

10. Constituted Forefathers Rock lodge and installed 
its Officers in the Lodge room — A procession formed and 
went to the meeting house — accompanied by a band of 
Music from Boston. — A sermon was preached and a Charge 
given in public to a crowded audience. A Ball in the 
Evening — much crowded. — Mrs. Armstrong buried. Mrs. 
Ball came to visit us from Lancaster. 

11. Returned to Boston — arrived there at 8 °Clock in 
the evening. My Grandson buried at Worcester. 

15. Went to Worcester in the Stage — Kept at my Son's. 

16. My Brother was at Boston. 

19. Set out Lombardy poplar Trees on the Medow, at 
the corner of each house Lot laid out on the Medow, re- 
placed dead Trees on the hill. 

21. Returned to Boston with Miss E. Weld in the Stage. 

25. Went to Theatre — Play Abaellino with Too many 
Cooks. 

27. John Cutler, Esq 1 ". P. G. M r . died. B r . Dunn his 
son in law, and also P. G. M 1 . applied to me to know if 
I would have masonic honors at his funeral. Directed 
there should be. 1 

28. Directed a meeting of the G. Lodge this day, and 
gave directions for the funeral on Thursday next. 

30. Purchased a new Tomb in North burying ground. 2 

31. John Cutler Past Grand Master buried— The Grand 
and other Lodges met in Trinity Church and formed a 



1 John Cutler, as Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, consecrated 
Morning Star Lodge in Worcester, 11 June. 179:!. Mr. Thomas was the first master 
of this lodge, having been transferred from Trinity Lodge in Lancaster. 

-' Copp'a Hill. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 13 

very large procession — from thence proceeded to the house 
of the deceased and joined the Relatives & friends of the 
deceased — deposited the Corpse in Trinity Church. The 
procession was very splendid — and everything conducted 

in good order. 1 

November, 1805. 

4. Some mischievous, or ill natured person cut down 
all the Trees I had planted on the Medow. 2 Bought 40 
shares in Worcester Bank. 



1 "The remains of JOHN CUTLER. Esq., deceased, were deposited with Grand 
Masonic Honors, on Thursday last. The procession formed in Trinitij Church, 
passed through several streets, and contained a great number of the Craft. — Of 
the visitors, were the Officers of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, in the rich jewels 
of their order. The pall was supported by the following Past-Grand Officers, 
M. W. Paul, Revere, M. W. Josiah Bartlett, R. W. William Scollay, R. W. 
Joseph Laughton, R. W. Mungo Mackay and R. W. Samuel .Pakkmax; who 
were invested with the Mourning scarves, and jewels of their order. The body 
was deposited in Trinity Church. After the Episcopal Funeral Service was per- 
formed by the Rev. Mr. GARDNER, the Brethren deposited on the Coffin of their 
departed Brother, the sprigs of acacia, which each had borne in the procession; — 
And the invocation and blessing were pronounced by the Rev. Mr. MURRAY, 
Grand Chaplain." — Columbian Centinel, 2 November, 1805. 



Trees Destroyed 20 Dollars Com- 
pensation. 
If the person, or persons, who 

about fix weeks fince, broke down and destroyed 
a large number of fmall Trees, which had recently 
been fet out on each fide of the new ftreet, laid 
out on the meadow, adjoining the main ftreet, in 
Worcefter, will call at the Worcefter Bookftore, 
he, or they, shall receive TWENTY DOLLARS, 
as a COMPENSATION for that very extraordina- 
ry fervice. It is to be hoped that thofe who 
were at fo much trouble to ferve others, will not 
be afhamed to be known, nor be fo modeft as not 
to call and receive the proffered Compenfation. — 
A Reward of TWENTY DOLLARS will be 
paid to any perfon who will give information of 
thofe who performed, or of anyone concerned in 
that tran faction. 

December iS, 1805. 

Massachusetts Spy, iS December, 1S05. 



14 American Antiquarian Society, 

5. Mrs. Ball went to Amesbury. 

8. Went to the Theatre with Eliza and Miss H. Weld. 

12. Mrs. Thomas, & Eliza, with Charlotte, Levi & 
Charles went to Worcester in the Chariot. Went over to 
Charlestown to view the State prison, just finished — Isaiah 
and his daughter Mary came from Worcester. 

16. Levi returned from Worcester — Isa and his daughter 
returned to Worcester. 

18. Went to the Theatre. Performance The Revenge 
and Don Juan. 

19. Mrs. Ball returned from Amesbury. 

20. Mrs. Ball went to Lancaster." 

21. Delivered M r . Dan 1 Waldo, jun 1 '. 1 Forty Shares in 
Worcester Bank, which I bought of M r . Boyd — to have 
transferred to me — Value at par 4000 dols. 

25. Sit for Mina e . 

27. Do. 



1 Daniel Waldo, t he son of Daniel anil Rebecca Salisbury Waldo, on coming of 
age, was taken into partnership by his father, the firm being known as D. Waldo and 
Son. After the retirement of his father in 1791, he greatly extended the business 
and increased his importations, supplying in a great measure this part of the coun- 
try and the adjoining states with foreign goods. He was a merchant in Worcester 
for nearly thirty years, and in 1813 had a hardware store in Boston, probably for a 
short time only, as his name appears in the directory for that year alone. 

With the exception of being a member of the Hartford Convention in 1814, and 
of I he State Senate from 1810* to 1819 Mr. Waldo held no public office; but he was 
identified with nearly all the local institutions. He was president of the Worcester 
Bank for forty-one years; of the Worcester County Institution for Savings from its 
incorporation in 1828 until his death; and of the Worcester Agricultural Society 
from 1820 to 1824. Central Church was built and given to that Society by him, 
ami in ISMS lie gave the land for Rural Cemetery. 

Mr. Waldo was never married. He lived from 1806 to 1828 in the Worcester 
Bank Building, and in the latter year he built the large mansion to the south of 
the hank, where Mechanics Hall now stands, where he lived with his maiden sisters 
until his death. 

(Born. Boston, 12. January, 1763. Died, Worcester, 9 July, 1845.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 1"> 

28. Thanksgiving — dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 1 

December, 1805. 

1. Wrote all day. 

2. Went to Theatre — To Marry or not to Marry and 
Turnpike Gate performed. 

3. E. W. went to Worcester. 

4. Visited Rising States Lodge. 

5. do. Mr. Jackson. 

8. Members of the G. L. met at my house. 

9. Went to G. L. New Election. T. Bigelow- chosen 
G[rand] M[aster] — my constitutional term expired. 

10. Prepared to set off for Worcester. 

11. Sat off for Worcester this morning in Coachee with 
H. Frazier. 



1 Ebenezer Turell Andrews, the son of William and Mary Andrews of Boston, was 
apprenticed to Mr. Thomas 18 July, 1781. He lived in the family, as was custom- 
ary at that time, and in 1788 was taken into partnership by him. He married for 
his first wife Hermione, daughter of Edward Weld, of Boston, who died in 1807, and 
soon afterwards he married her sister Elizabeth. -At the time of his first marriage, 
he lived in Deming's court (now Avon place); and later over the store of Thomas 
and Andrews in Newbury street, in the house adjoining it, in the house at the cor- 
ner of Washington street and Central court, and about the year 1825 he moved to 
1,5 Winter street. 

[Born, Boston, 18 November, 1766. Died, Boston, 9 October, 1851.] 

- Timothy Bigelow, son of Col. Timothy Bigelow, as a boy spent two years in 
the printing office of Mr. Thomas, at the same time Benjamin Russell was an ap- 
prentice there. After his graduation from Harvard, in 1786, he entered the office of 
Levi Lincoln, and was admitted to the bar in 1789. He practiced in Groton, Mass., 
until 1S06, when he removed to Medford and opened an office in Boston, where 
he soon acquired a prominent position in the profession. 

From 1792 to 1797, he represented Groton in the General Court; was Senator 
for ths four succeeding years and Councillor in 1802; for eighteen years from 1804 
he was again a member of the House, and was for eleven years its Speaker. In 
1S14 he was a delegate to the Hartford Convention. 

[Born, Worcester, 30 April, 1767. Died, Medford, 18 May, 1821.] 



li? American Antiquarian Society. 

22. Judge Sedgwick 1 dined with me. 

25. Went to Boston in the Stage and kept at M r 
Edward Weld's. 

26. Rec d . Miss. R. Armstrong's money. 

27. St John's — Grand Lodge met at Concert hall. 2 I 
installed the Grand Master Elect. 

28. Returned to Worcester in the Stage. 



i:> 



January, 1806. 
Isa & Eliza Weld went to Boston. 



4200 dols. Bank. 

Severe Storm of Snow. No mail, 
do. do. No mail. 

Roads blocked up.— No mail. 
Roads broken open. — Went to Boston in the Mail 



21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 

25. 

Stage. 

29. Returned from Boston with Miss H. Weld in the 
Stage. 

February, 1806. 

5. Went to Lancaster, Harvard, &c. with Eliza. 

6. Returned with Mrs. (Moses) Thomas. 
12. Mrs. T. & Eliza went to Sterling. 

21. Party to sup. 



1 Theodore Sedgwick of Stockbridge, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Massa- 
chusetts from 1802 to 1813. He was t ho father of Catherine Maria Sedgwick, the 
n ite I author. 

-' Concert Hall, which, until 1869, stood at the corner of Court and Hanover 
str lets, was also for many years a tavern, and was kept at this time by .Tames Vilas. 
It wa- a DOted meeting place for the patriots before the Revolution, and had been 
used lor masonic purposes as early as 1755. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 17 

24. Party to sup. 

26. Finished ace*, of Stock. 

27. Dined at Chandlers. 

28. Sup at Farrar's. 1 

March, 1806. 

7. Supper at Bush's. 2 

18. Signed for 10 Turnpike Shares — Note due at Bank 
4800 dols. 

20. C. Com. Pleas. 

26. Company to dine. 

27. Dined with S. Chandler. 

28. Company to dine. 

April, 1S06. 

10. Went to Boston in Coachee with Miss H. Weld, 
Hannah Frazier. 

15. Returned to Worcester with H. Frazier and Mary 
Armstrong. 

17. Supreme Court. 

20, 21, 22. Unwell with a bad Cold. 



1 John Farrar came to Worcester in the latter part of the eighteenth century, 
and purchased an estate of several acres on the north side of Pleasant, near the 
foot of the present Chestnut street. He had a store in the "old compound" on 
the north corner of Main and Front streets, where, besides carrying on a large 
business as a merchant and retailer, he yearly packed for foreign markets thou- 
sands of barrels of beef and pork. 

In 1797, Mr. Farrar married Polly, the daughter of Daniel Heywood. He later 
removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died in 1814. 

Isaac Davis in his "Fire Society Reminiscences" speaks of him as a man "of gen- 
tlemanly deportment, neat and graceful in his personal appearance, fond of wit 
and anecdote, and a lively and interesting companion in social intercourse." 

2 John Bush of Boylston lived at this time in the Gardiner Chandler house. 

2 



IS American Antiquarian Society. 

28. Pruned Trees. 

29. Bank— due 1000 dols. 

May, 1806. 

10. Projected and laid out, as far as my own land 
extends, a new road 40 feet wide running N. & S. A new 
road at right angles with the one I laid out E. & W. last 
Summer. This new street will extend through the medow. 1 

12. Mrs. Thomas & Eliza went to Boston with Mrs. 
Frazier & Levi in the Coachee. 10th, 12th, & 13th put 
up fence on the Medow and replaced the Trees. 

20. Stevens began work. 

21. His brother began do. 

23. Sat out for Walpole, N. H., with my Son in a 
Chaise. 

24. Arrived at Walpole at noon. Stephens on Horse- 
back. 

25. Went to Windsor, Vermont, in a hired carriage 
with my son & A. Thomas. 2 

26. Returned to Walpole. 

27. Sat off at 5 °Clock in the Morning from Walpole, 
N. H. and arrived at Worcester at 10 in the Evening in 
a Chaise with my son — 71 miles. 

31. Went to Boston in the stage — Miss Mary Armstrong 
kept house at Worcester. 



1 This was later known as Middle street, and was a part of the present Union 
street, north of Thomas. 

2 Alexander Thomas, a distant relative of Mr. Thomas, was graduated from Dart- 
mouth in 1792, and after serving as a clerk in the latter's Worcester store, was 
admitted into partnership in June, 1796, the firm bearing the name of Thomas, 
Son & Thomas. He was later the managing partner of the firm in Walpole, and 
was for several years the editor of the Farmers Museum. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 19 

June, 1806. 

2. Artillery Election. 

3. Rec d a Letter respecting affairs at Baltimore. 1 

5. Sat off for Worcester in Coachee with Mrs. Thomas 
and Hannah Frazier. M r . Andrews sat off for Balti- 
more. 

6. I sat off in the Stage for Baltimore 3 "clock 
p. M. 

7. and arrived at Palmer 36 miles at 3 °Clock in the 
morning in the stage & arrived at Newhaven. 

8. At Newhaven. 

9. 1 "clock p. m. sat off for New York. 

10. Arrived at New York at 11 °Clock. 

11. Left New York and arrived at Princeton. 

12. Arrived at Philadelphia. 

13. Left Philadelphia and arrived at Havre de Grace. 

14. Arrived at Baltimore. 

18. Miss R. Armstrong came to Worcester with Eliza. 

23. Left Baltimore and arrived at Newport, Delaware. 

24. Arrived at Philadelphia. 

26. Left Philadelphia and arrived at Brunswick. 

27. Arrived at Newyork. 

28. Went to Longisland to see my Brother. 

29. Returned to Newyork. 

30. Left Newyork at 9 °Clock and arrived at Newhaven. 
80 miles. 



1 In 1794 Thomas & Andrews extended a branch of their bookselling business 
to Baltimore, under the firm name of Thomas, Andrews & Butler. 



20 America?! Antiquarian Society. 

July, 1806. 

1. Left Newhaven and arrived at Hartford. 

2. Left Hartford and arrived at Palmer. 

3. Arrived at Worcester. 

4. Went to Leicester. Academy dedicated. 1 

5. Miss R. Armstrong went to Boston. 

14. Went to Boston in the Coachee with Hannah 
Frazier & Levi. 

18. Went to Charlestown to see the Battle of Alex- 
andria or Panomora, with M r . Andrews & the Miss Welds. 

24. Went to Fresh pond with M r . Andrews & his wife 
& the Miss Welds. Isaiah Thomas Simmons born at St. 
Albans, Vermont. 

25. Purchased the Crosby house in Boston. 

26. Returned to Worcester in Coachee with Miss Han- 
nah Weld, Hannah Frazier & Levi. 

27. Rain. Trees broken down in medow. 



1 This was the first building built, for the Academy. The old Lopez house and 
store which had been occupied since its foundation in 1784 soon proved inadequate 
for its needs, and as early as 1786, measures were taken to rebuild. But financial 
embarrassment caused by the effects of the war and the depreciation of the currency 
rendered this out of the question at that time. In 1793, however, the state granted 
to it a township of land in Maine, and two years later a lottery was established 
for its benefit. With these aids, and with additional private gifts, in 1804 the 
trustees felt themselves justified in beginning the new building, and on 14 May, 
1805, the corner-stone was laid. 

At its dedication, Rev. Aaron Bancroft delivered an address upon the impor- 
tance and influence of education. 

Mr. Thomas was one of the earliest patrons of the Academy, and left to it a legacy 
which amounted to more than five thousand dollars. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 21 

August, 1806. 

2. Young Austin killed by Self ridge. 1 

4. Wm. Andrews 2 and wife arrived from Boston. 

5. And this morning sat off for Stafford Springs. 

6. Went to Lancaster with Mrs. T., Miss Weld, Au- 
gusta. 

7. Went from Lancaster to Sterling. Returned to 
Worcester with my brother's wife. 

15. Raised the ground at the new bridge on the new 
street so as for the first time to get a loaded cart on it. 
William Andrews and his wife returned from Stafford 
Springs. 

16. Left us this morning for Boston. Eliza and Miss 
Weld went to Sterling with my brother's wife. 

18. Millander began work. 



1 This tragedy grew out of a political quarrel between the famous Boston lawyer, 
Benjamin Austin, the father of the victim, and Thomas Oliver Selfridge, then a 
partner of Lemuel Shaw, who was just beginning his professional life. It caused 
the greatest excitement in Boston, at a time when party feeling ran very high, and 
the day was long afterwards known as "Bloody Monday." The trial of Selfridge 
for manslaughter, before Judge Parker, was one of the most noted which ever 
occurred in Boston. James Sullivan, Attorney General, and Daniel Davis, Solici- 
tor General, appeared for the prosecution; and Samuel Dexter, Christopher Gore, 
Harrison Gray Otis and Charles Jackson were counsel for the defence. 

The defence claimed that Charles Austin, a Harvard student, eighteen years 
of age, had espoused his father's side, and that as he saw Selfridge crossing State 
street, near the old State House, advanced rapidly towards him in a threatening 
manner and began striking him on the head; and that, because of his inferior 
strength and size he was unable to defend himself, he drew his pistol and shot his 
assailant dead. 

The verdict was "not guilty," but it is impossible to say how far it was affected 
by the political opinions of the jurors. Thomas Handasyd Perkins was the fore- 
man of the grand jury which found the indictment, and Paul Revere was the fore- 
man of the petit jury which rendered the verdict. 

-' William Andrews, a brother of Ebenezer T. Andrews, was a bookseller at 1 Corn- 
hill, Boston. 



22 American Antiquarian Society. 

21. Rode over the new bridge on the New Street for 
the first time it was passed with a carriage. Mr. Trum- 
bull accompanied me. Hail storm. 2000 squares of glass 
broken in Worcester street by hail Stones. 

23. Stevens began work. 

25. Began mending the Canal. Went to Framingham 
and met M r Andrews and family, etc. Returned to Worces- 
ter with Mrs. A. and his sons, young Weld, and Wm. A's 
son. 

29. Went yesterday to Boylston with Mrs. A. her sons, 
the family, etc. Dined with M r S. Chandler. Millander 
& Stevens absent. 

30. Millander absent. 

31. M r Nash 1 dined, etc. 



September, 1806. 

1. Levi carried Mrs. Andrews and the lads to Fram- 
ingham. 

5. Ploughed up the new Street. 

6. Went to Boston in Coachee with H. Frazier & 
Levi. 

8. Quarterly Communication. 



1 Rev. William 'Nash, the first settled minister in West Boylston, was graduated 
from Yale in 1791. When he accepted the call to West Boylston, in 1797, he 
found that a part of the members of his church were, like himself, Arminians, while 
a minority were Calvinists. Although the latter faction was greatly opposed to 
his settlement, the opposition was after a time apparently dormant, but it broke 
out again so fiercely in 1812, that an attempt was made to dismiss him. In 1814 
ill health prevented him from performing his pastoral duties, and in the follow- 
ing year he was dismissed at his own request. He died in West Boylston in 1829, 
at the age of sixty years. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 23 

9. Dined with Grand Chapter. Elected G[rand] H[igh] 
P[riest]. Mrs. Bangs died. 1 

10. Returned to Worcester with Frazier & Levi. I. T., 
jun r and Miss Hannah Weld went to Boston in Chaise. 

11. Agreed with Dr. Green 2 200 Loads of gravel for 
manure. 

13. Hired Briggs 42 s. per week & grog. I. T., jun. 
returned from Boston with Eliza Weld. 

20. Agreed with D r Fisk 3 for gravel. 



1 Hannah, daughter of Joseph Lynde, of Charlestown and Worcester, and wife 
of Edward Bangs. 

2 Dr. John Green, the second, the son of John and Mary Ruggles Green, studied 
medicine with his father, and at the age of eighteen began his professional life in 
Worcester, which covered a period of twenty-seven years, for the last nine of which 
he was practically the only physician in the town. He w r as particularly skilled 
in surgery and built up a large practice which extended far into the country. 

Dr. Green married Nancy, daughter of James Barber, of Worcester, by whom 
he had eleven children, of whom the eldest was Dr. John Green, the founder of 
the Free Public Library in Worcester. He lived first in his father's little wooden 
office, and afterwards built the house next south, opposite the head of the present 
Central street, which was later occupied by his son. He died suddenly at the 
age of forty-five. "To his funeral," says the Massachusetts Spy of 17 August, 
1808, "came the largest concourse of people from this and neighboring towns ever 
known to be collected here on a similar occasion." 

Governor Lincoln in his "Fire Society Reminiscences," says of him: "Dr. Green, 
like others of his family, had his amusing but harmless peculiarities. He would 
often be followed, in his queer looking two-wheeled vehicle, by a pack of Dogs; 
or, superb horseman as he was, be seen on the backs of all manner of ungainly, 
half-broken Colts, at full gallop, accompanied by the Pack giving mouth as if a score 
of Huntsmen were at their heels, to the infinite delight of all the urchins in the 
village." 

[Born, Worcester, 18 March, 1763. Died, Worcester, 11 August, 1808.] 

3 Oliver Fiske, the son of Rev. Nathan Fiske, of Brookfield, received his early 
education at home, and in 1780, at the age of eighteen, enlisted in the Continental 
army. At the end of his term of service he was employed on his father's farm, 
and entered Harvard in 1783. 

When Shays's Rebellion broke out three years later he was instrumental in re- 
organizing the Marti-Mercurian Band of the University and in obtaining an order 
from Governor Bowdoin for sixty stands of arms from Castle William. He was 
first-lieutenant of the company and bore its petition to the court, then sitting in 
Concord, for permission to march with the government army, hut the college an- 



24 American Antiquarian Society. 

23. S. J. C. Judge Parsons first presided at Worces- 
ter. 1 



thnrities declined to allow it. When Shays appeared in Worcester he was teaching 
school in Lincoln, during the winter vacation, and procuring a substitute he hastened 
there and joined General Lincoln's army in its march to Petersham. 

After his graduation in 1787 he studied medicine with Dr. Atherton of Lancaster, 
and in 1790 began to practice in Worcester. He was one of the founders of the 
Worcester County Medical Society and for several years its secretary and librarian, 
was the first president of the district society and councillor of the Massachusetts 
Medical Society. But although he at once took a leading position in his profession, 
that soon became secondary to other interests. He had great influence in the 
Federal party and his contributions to the newspapers, especially during the War 
of 1812, were marked by their terse and epigrammatic style. In 1811 he was the 
editor of the Massachusetts Spy for a time. 

Dr. Fiske also took a great interest in the internal improvements which occupied 
so much of the public mind in the early part of the nineteenth century, and was 
actively engaged in the building of the Boston and Worcester and the Stafford 
Turnpikes and the Blackstone Canal. 

In 1798 he was town treasurer; town clerk from 1800 to 1803; and in the latter 
year was appointed a special justice of the Court of Common Pleas; from 1813 
to 1815 he was a member of the Executive Council; and Register of Deeds from 
1816 to 1821. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 
one of the founders and a member of the council of the American Antiquarian 
Society, corresponding secretary of the Linna-an Society of New England and 
of the Worcester Agricultural Society from 1824 to 1837. 

In 1S21 increasing deafness caused him to retire to private life and he devoted 
his time to his farm and to horticulture, in which he took a great interest. He 
lived in the old Judge Jennison house on Court Hill, where State street now is 
and his garden and orchard extended westward to the top of the hill. 

[Born, Brookfield, 2 September, 1762. Died, Boston, 25 January, 1837.] 

1 Theophilus Parsons, after he was graduated from Harvard in 1769, studied 
law with Judge Trowbridge and began his professional life in Newburyport. lie 
came to Boston in 1800 with a high reputation, and as a master of prize and ad- 
miralty law he ranked with John Lowell and Governor Sullivan. His appoint- 
ment by Governor Strong to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Chief Justice 
Dana in 1806, occasioned some comment, as it was a departure from the usual 
precedent of appointing a chief justice from the bench, and was made over the 
head of the Senior Associate Justice, Theodore Sedgwick, at the private interces- 
sion of Judges Isaac Parker and Samuel Sewall. But a man of energy and 
character was needed to counteract the great laxity which had grown up in court 
procedure, and Judge Parsons's sweeping reforms soon showed the wisdom of the 
appointment. He held the position of chief justice until his death in 1813. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 25 

24. Mr. & Mrs. Mycall l visited us — my brother visited 
us. 

26. Rebecca Parker visited us. 

27. Mr. & Mrs. Mycall & R. Parker returned. 

October, 1806. 

1. Mrs. Thomas & Eliza went to Boston with Levi, 
Braatz & Mary. 

2. Judge Sedgwick and others of the S. J. C. dined 
with me. 

4. Stevens account for work on Medow, 98 dollars. 
Briggs do., 24 dols. 

6. Finished work on the new Street. The Selectmen 
came and surveyed it & laid it out in form. The Light 
Infantry Company, under arms, commanded by Capt. 
Flagg, marched thro it, halted on the bridge, and dis- 



1 In 1773, Mr. Thomas, having made an addition to his printing materials, sent 
a press and types to Newburyport, and established the first press ever set up in 
that place; and on December 4th, with his partner, Henry Walter Tinges, he 
began the publication of The Essex Journal, and Merrimack Packet: Or, The 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Advertiser. The price of the paper 
was "six shillings and eight pence lawful money," which the printers say is "as 
cheap as any newspaper in the four quarters of the globe." The first number 
contains the following advertisement: — 

"PRINTING 
Those ladies and gentlemen, who are desirous of seeing the curious art of printing, 
are hereby informed that on Monday next the printing office will be opened for 
their reception, and the printers ready to wait on all, who will do the honor of their 
company. 

December 4th, 1773." 

The venture not proving successful, Mr. Thomas sold his interest within a year to 
Ezra Lunt, at a considerable loss. About two years later Lunt in turn sold out 
to John Mycall, a native of Worcester, England, who at that time was a school- 
master in Amesbury. Mycall shortly afterwards became the sole owner of the 
paper, which he published for many years. After his retirement from business, 
he bought a farm in Harvard, in Worcester County, and subsequently removed 
to Cambridgeport, where he died about 1826. 



26 American Antiquarian Society. 

charged three vollies. The Gentlemen of the Street pre- 
pared a large tub and two pails full of excellent punch, 
and the Selectmen, at the request of those present and 
in conformity to their own proposal, named the street 
Thomas street. The Infantry Company were refreshed 
with as much punch as they chose to drink and all present. 
Three Cheers were given, and the Company marched off. 

7. Lost shirt pin sent me by my sister. 

9. Miss M. Armstrong came up from Boston and Mrs. 
Braatz and Mary Stratton with Levi. 

10. Went to Boston in Chaise with Charles, Miss Mary 
Seaver and Hannah Frazier in Chariot. Miss M. Armstrong 
to keep house in Worcester. 

12. Read "Secret history of St. Cloud." 

16. Went with M r . A. to see some lots at Cambridgeport. 

17. Read "Cumberland's Life." 

23. Turner's Ball. 

24. Theatre: Loring's first performance. 1 



1 In the New England Palladium of 24 October, 1806, "The Public are respect- 
fully informed, that at the repeated solicitations of a number of respectable persons, 
and in consequence of numerous applications, the Managers are induced to give 
Master LORING, (a youth of Boston, aged 16 years) an opportunity of appearing 
in the character of RICHARD THE THIRD." 

The following communication appears in the same issue: — 
"Shakespear's tragedy of Richard III., is selected for performance this evening 
for the express purpose of introducing to the boards, a young gentleman of this 
town, in the arduous character of the erook-hack'd tyrant. Master Loring, who 
has not yet arrived at his 17th year, is the adventurous candidate for the honors 
of the buskin, in this multiform and laborious personage. His claim to this ex- 
periment of his talent s, is, we hear, supported by the private attestations of several 
judicious friends and good criticks. To excel in Richard, is an achievment of no 
common proof. Genius, directed by science, and ripened by experience, has been 
considered indispensably requisite to pass a rigid public ordeal; yet we have no 
hesitation to say, that Master L, if candidly viewed as a debutant, will be thought 
no mean competitor for the laurels of Bostrorth- field '." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 27 

25. Paid Tucker 25 dollars. 

27. Pd. Aqueduct 6 dols. Theatre with Eliza. 

28. Bought new Coachee. 

30. Drive with Mrs. Thomas, Eliza & Miss H. Weld. 
The subscribers of Worcester Turnpike first met this day at 
Concert hall, Boston, to organize and chuse Directors, etc. 
I was chosen a Director. 1 



1 By an act of the General Court, dated 7 March, 1806, Aaron Davis, Luther 
Richardson, Samuel Welles, Charles Davis and William H. Sumner and their as- 
sociates were empowered "to make, lay out, and keep in repair a turnpike road" 
from Roxbury to Worcester, through Brookline, Newton, Needham, Natick, Fram- 
ingham, Southborough, Westborough and Shrewsbury; and Bezaleel Taft, of 
Uxbridge, Nicholas Tillinghast of Taunton and Silas Holman of Bolton were ap- 
pointed a committee to view and lay out the road, make alterations, adjust damages 
and authorize the erection of toll gates. Luther Richardson was the first clerk 
of the corporation and William H. Sumner the treasurer. In January, 1807, the 
directors announced that they would receive proposals for making the road, and 
that particulars would be furnished by Aaron Davis or George Zeigler, Roxbury, 
Oliver Fiske, Worcester, or William H. Sumner, Boston. 

The committee held their first meeting at Coolidge's Tavern in Worcester, the 
following April. Work was immediately begun, and on 9 October, 1809, in a notice 
calling for an assessment the proprietors were notified that the road was finished 
and the toll-houses erected. 

By the act of incorporation the company was authorized to erect four toll gates, 
in places not on any old road, which the committee should determine; but it was 
found, as the different sections of the road were completed, that it made such 
intersections with various old roads, that persons could easily travel on the turn- 
pike a great part of the way, and avoid the toll gates; and the company was al- 
lowed to erect additional gates and subdivide the toll. 

An act passed 16 March, 1805, established the following rates of toll on all turn- 
pike roads within the State: 

For each coach, chariot, phaeton, or other four-wheel spring carriage drawn 

by two horses, .25 

For each additional horse, .02 

For every waggon, drawn by two horses, .10 

For each additional horse, .02 

For every cart or waggon, drawn by two oxen, .10 

If drawn by more than two, .12£ 

For every curricle, .15 

For every chaise, chair, sulkey or other carriage for pleasure, drawn by one 

horse, .12 J 

For every cart, waggon or truck, drawn by one horse, .06$ 



28 American Antiquarian Society. 

November, 1806. 

1. Mrs. Thomas went to Worcester, with Levi in the 
Chariot. 

3. Voted in Boston. Town of Worcester voted me 
thanks for the new street. 1 



For every man and horse, .04 

For every sleigh or sled, drawn by two oxen or horses, .08 

For each additional ox or horse, .01 

For every sleigh or sled, drawn by one horse, .04 

For all horses, mules or neat cattle, led or driven, besides those in teams 

or carriages, each, .01 

For all sheep or swine, per doz., .03 

The corporation might commute these rates by taking a certain sum annually, 
and carts or waggons having wheels, the fellies of which were six inches broad 
or more, paid only half the regular toll. 

Unless these rates were posted in a conspicuous place at each gate, no toll could 
be collected. 

The act exempted from toll "any person that shall be passing on foot, or with 
his horse or carriage to or from his usual place of public worship, or from any 
person passing on military duty, or from any person residing in the town where 
the gate may be placed, unless they are going or returning from beyond the limits 
of said town, or from any person going to or from any grist-mill, or on the com- 
mon and ordinary business of family concerns." 

In 1826, that part of the road lying in Roxbury was discontinued, and its eastern 
end was established at the arch near the Punchbowl Tavern in Bror>kline. 

In 1S41 the company surrendered its charter and the road was maintained by 
the different towns through which it passed. After much opposition, the section 
in Worcester [the present Belmont street], was accepted by the town, 1 May, 
1843. 

1 "At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Worcester Qualified to Vote 
in Town affairs legally warned A assembled at the meeting House of the first 
Parish in Said Town on Monday the third day of November A. 1). L806 then the 
following Votes were passed viz Chose Samuel Flagg Fsq r . Moderator. 

"Voted that the Town do approve and allow of a Town way or Street [aid out 
by the Selectmen through the land of Isaiah Thomas Esq'. * Cap 1 . Daniel Hey- 
wood by the Name of Thomas Street and Voted that the Thanks of the Town be 
given to Isaiah Thomas Ksci r . for his Generosity in giving the land for Said Street 
and building the bridge and making the Street in Complete repair to be travelled 
on without any Expence to the Town, the report of the Selectmen is as follows — 
The Selectmen of the Town of Worcester have laid out a Town way or Street 
through the lands of Isaiah Thomas Esquire A- a Small Strip belonging to Cap'. 
Daniel Heywood from the main Street to back (Summer) Street near the centre 
of the Town on the North Side of the bounds following. Beginning at the North- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 29 

7. Struck with rheumatism in my back. Mary Thomas, 
jim 1 her Daughters, Mary & Frances came from Worcester 
in the Coachee with Levi. 

8. Confined with Rheumatism. 

9. Mary & Frances & their mother dined with me. 

10. Went out after 3 days' confinement. My son & 
Rev. M r Bancroft ' came from Worcester. 



west Corner of the House lot lately Sold by Isaiah Thomas to William Rice, on 
the East Skle of the main Street, in a line ranging the front Sides of the Houses 
of Elnathan Pratt & Said William Rice, at a Stake which is more than thirty Six 
feet South of the South west corner of Said Pratts House, because the Same does 
not Stand Square with the Street now laid out, thence running East Nine degrees 
North to the Canal, the Said Street being thirty Six feet wide to the canal, then 
turning Southwardly down the Canal, one foot, then crossing the Canal on the 
Same direction of the Street, that is. East Nine North So as to make the bridge 
thirty Eight feet wide, thence turning down the Canal on the East Side one more 
foot Southwardly, thence again Nine degrees North till it comes to back Street, 
being forty feet wide from the East Side of the Canal to Back Street, the Said 
Street running four Rods & five links & an half through the land of Cap'. Daniel 
Hey wood on the East part where it comes to back Street, the Selectmen gave him 
Seasonable Notice & he consented to the laying out of Said Street Isaiah Thomas 
Esquire was also present & consented to the laying out of the Same, and considering 
that he offered, & has given the land to the Town for a Street ifc also built a Bridge 
over Said canal and presented the Same to the Town hand Somely constructed 
& in good repair and by raising Said Street on the middle & carting gravel there- 
upon has offered up the whole in complete condition to be travelled on, the Se- 
lectmen have agreed to present the Same to the Town for their approbation and 
allowance by the Name of Thomas Street. 

EPH". MOWER "1 

Worcester Oct'. 6"- 1806. EDW*. BANGS I Selec " nc " ol 

NATIP. HARRINGTON | ihe T °"'" "[ 
NATHAN WHITE J Worce8ter -" 

'Aaron Bancroft, the son of Samuel and Lydia Parker Bancroft of Heading. 
Ma:-.-., entered Harvard in 1774, and when the college was closed in the following 
year on account of the outbreak of the war, worked upon his father's farm, and 
later marched to the relief of Cambridge with the Reading minute men. After 
his graduation in 177S he taught the town school in Cambridge for a few months, 
and then prepared for the ministry with Rev. Air. Haven of Heading, beginning 
to preach in the autumn of 1779. 

In 1780 he received an invitation to visit Nova Scotia, and having obtained 
permission from the Executive Council to leave the state, lie lived in that province 
for three years and preached in various places. He returned in 17S3. landing at 



30 American Antiquarian Society. 

11. Sat off for Framingham with Eliza, H. Frazier, 
Levi & Charles in a Coachee & Chaise. 

12. Sat off from Framingham with 2 of the Directors 
of Worcester Turnpike, surveyors and chainmen to re- 
view the proposed road, and arrived at Worcester 14th 
day at sun down. 

18. Directors of Worcester Turnpike & Gen. Court's 
Comm ce met at Worcester. 

19. Directors & Com ee went on the Route to view the 
road. 



Salem in July, and the next week was asked to supply the pulpit of the church 
in Worcester, during the illness of its minister. Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty. He 
preached therefor eight weeks, and was then immediately engaged in several vacant 
parishes. Mr. Maccarty died in July, 1784, and in October Mr. Bancroft returned 
and preached again for five or six weeks, but this time his Arminian views caused 
great excitement; great differences of opinion arose, and the parish was so divided 
that even social intercourse was interrupted. 

Meanwhile the committee for supplying the pulpit had been vainly endeavoring 
to find a successor to Mr. Maccarty, and at the town meeting 22 November, 1784, 
it was "Voted that their be a Day Set apart for fasting & Prayer in this Town 
for calling on the Divine for assistance for the re-establishment of the Gospel minis- 
try in this Place." A week later it was voted that "Mr. Haven" preach four Sun- 
days and after him Mr. Bancroft four. Mr. Bancroft accordingly occupied the 
pulpit again 10 January, 1785, and three days later fifty-four members presented 
a petition that the town — not the church — settle him as Mr. Maccarty's successor; 
and at the meeting 1 March, 1785, "It was Moved, that the Town agree to Settle 
M r . Bancraft in the work of the Gospel Ministry, and Such other Person as may 
be agreable to and chosen Solely by those who are desierous of hearing further 
and the Settlement and Salaries of both to be at the Expence of the Town at Large." 
This being passed in the negative, Mr. Bancroft's followers asked permission to 
form a new Society, and this was also refused. A voluntary association was then 
formed, a covenant adopted and a church organized under the corporate name 
of the "Second Parish in the town of Worcester." Among those most influential 
in its formation were Levi Lincoln, Joseph Allen, Edward Bangs, Timothy Paine, 
Timothy Bigelow and Isaiah Thomas. According to usage, the sixty-seven asso- 
ciates, of whom only two men and four women had been communicants, not having 
been dismissed from any other church for that purpose, were not competent to 
form a new one; so they devised the novel expedient of a public "lecture," at 
which the covenant was read, explained and signed. 

Services began on the third Sunday in March in the Court House, and on 7 June, 
Mr. Bancroft consented to become the minister, with a salary of five hundred dollars. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 31 

20. Finished viewing the road, and arrived at Boston 
this Evening. 

21. Directors met at Boston. I sat off this afternoon 
for Worcester in a chaise alone. 

22. Arrived at Worcester. 

27. Thanksgiving. — My son & family dined with me. 

December, 1806. 
1. Went to form Association for Assemblies. 



At his ordination, 1 February, 1786, the feeling was so strong against his doctrines 
that only two ministers in the vicinity could be found to assist, — Rev. Timothy 
Harrington of Lancaster and Rev. Zabdiel Adams of Lunenburg. The new parish 
was incorporated 13 November, 1787, and was a poll and not a territorial parish, 
that is, it was composed of those of similar opinions without regard to local habi- 
tation, and was probably the first of the kind in Massachusetts outside of Boston. 

Dr. Bancroft was the minister of the Second Parish until his death in 1839, a 
period of fifty-three years, during the last twelve of which Rev. Alonzo Hill, the 
second minister, was his colleague. 

Outside of his parish Dr. Bancroft took an active part in general educational 
and religious matters. In 1810 he received the degree of D.D. from Harvard. 
He was trustee of Leicester Academy from 1800 to 1831, and its president for many 
years; president of the Worcester County Bible Society, of the American Unita- 
rian Association from its formation in 1825 to 1836 and of the Society for promoting 
Christian Knowledge; vice-president of the Worcester and Middlesex Missionary 
Society and of the American Antiquarian Society from 1816 to 1832; and a fellow 
of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

In 1807 he published a "Life of Washington," which was twice reprinted; and 
in 1821 a series of doctrinal discourses, of which President John Adams wrote to 
him, "I thank you for your kind letter of Dec. 30th, and above all, for the gift of 
a precious volume. It is a chain of diamonds set in links of gold. I have never 
read, nor heard read, a volume of sermons better calculated and adapted to the 
age and country in which it was written. How different from the sermons I heard 
and read in the town of Worcester from the year 1755 to 1758 . . . You 
may well suppose, that I have heard controversies enough; but, after all, I declare 
to you, that your twenty-nine sermons have expressed the result of all my read- 
ing, experience, and reflections, in a manner more satisfactory to me, than I could 
have done in the best days of my strength." 

He also published many sermons in pamphlet form. 

[Born, Reading, Mass., 10 November, 1755. Died, Worcester, 19 August, 1839.] 

See entry and note, 28 February, 1810. 



32 American Antiquarian Society. 

5. Sat off for Boston in stage. Lodged with M r E. 
T. Afndrewsl 

G. Attended in Com ee Agents of Portland and Ancient 
Land Mark Lodges. 

7. Went to M r Murray" meeting. 1 

8. Attended Grand Lodge. 

9. Do. Grand Chapter. 

11. Attended an encampment of K. Templars. 

12. Severe snow storm. Arrived at Worcester with 
Miss II. Weld from Boston in 7 hours — half way in 
stage, and half way in my sleigh. 

17. 1 st assembly this evening for the season. 

25. Dined with Isa. 

27. Anson Whipple went to Hardwick. 

Ml. 2' 1 Assembly. Anson W. returned from Hardwick. 
21 pei-sons died in M r Bancroft's society, or 2 d parish 
this year. 

January, 1807. 
Worcester. 
8. Drew 500 dolls in Amoskeg Lott y . 
10. My Dog, Cupid, died aged about 16 years. 
12. Rec d . 400 dollars from Boston Co. 2 



1 Rev. John Murray founded the first Universalis! Church in Huston in 1793, 
and was its minister until his death in 1815. The church was a wooden building 
which had been erected by the seceders from the old North under Rev. Samuel 
Mather, and s1 1 at the corner of North Bennei and Hanover streets. 

-' The firm of Thomas and Andrews, which Mr. Thomas had established with 
Ebenezer T. Andrews in Boston, in 1788, rapidly grew through their enterprise 
and energy, and at the beginning of the century had become one of the most ex- 
tensive publishing houses in the country, with branches in Baltimore and Albany. 

Five presses, employing ten persons, were kept constantly running in Boston, and 

there were five or six young men or boys as apprentices, the whole being under 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 33 

13. Officiate this week at the Bank for Judge 
Paine. 1 

14. 3 a Assembly for the season. Mr. lVnniman arrived 
from Troy. 

the superintendence of William Manning, who, in 1S14, began to publish the 
Massachusetts Spy in Worcester. In 1S04 Manning was succeeded by Joseph T. 
Buckingham, the founder of the Boston Courier. 

In the preceding thirty years a great revolution had been brought about in the 
art of printing, greatly lessening the labors of the journeyman; the power press 
had come into use. and rollers for inking the forms had succeeded the old mode 
of beating the type by balls. The force of a printing office at that time consisted 
of journeymen and apprentices. The wages of the former were not more than 
six or seven dollars a week; and for piece work, sixpence a token (ten quires of 
paper) at press, and a shilling for composing a thousand ems were the highest prices 
paid. The apprentices, who served until they were twenty-one, ranked in the 
order of their seniority in the office, not by age, — the elder boys being employed 
chiefly on book-work, their juniors working at the press, while the youngest were 
the printers' devils. 

From 1789 to 1793 inclusive, Thomas and Andrews published the Massachusetts 
Magazine, a monthly, illustrated with engravings, which was quite popular in its 
day. In the publication of school-books they had almost a monopoly, and for more 
than a generation the greater part of those in use in the United States bore their 
imprint. The forms of several of these were kept standing. "Webster's Spelling 
Book" kept one press, and often two or three, constantly employed, and two or 
three large editions of the duodecimo Bible were printed every year. Other books 
which gave constant employment to the journeymen and apprentices were Rev. 
Jedidiah Morse's geographical works, — the "Gazetteer," 2 vols., the "American 
Geography," the "Geography made easy" and the "Elements of Geography"; 
"Beauties of the Bible" for schools, then just coming into extensive use; "Pike's 
Arithmetic"; "Perry's Dictionary"; Dr. Belknap's "Sacred Poetry"; the "Worces- 
ter Collection of Sacred Harmony"; the "Bridgewater Collection"; the "Union 
Harmony"; and numerous other musical works "printed typographically." 
Many text-books were also printed for Harvard College. 

Their store in Boston was at 45 Newbury street (now Washington), "at the 
Sign of Faust's Head," which was the same sign formerly used by the occupants 
of the birthplace of Franklin. 

See also entry, 20 August, 1820. 

1 Nathaniel Paine, the son of Timothy and Sarah Chandler Paine, was graduated 
from Harvard in 1775 and read law with John Sprague of Lancaster. After his 
admission to the bar in 1781 he practiced in Groton for five years and then re- 
turned to Worcester. He was a representative to the General Court from 1798 
to 1800, and County Attorney for the same period; ami Judge of Probate from 1801 
to 1836. He was one of the founders and councillors of the American Antiquarian 
Society and a fellow of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen. 
His house and office were at first on Lincoln street but he later removed to the 

3 



34 American Antiquarian Society. 

15. Museum burnt in Boston a 2 d time and 6 Boys 
killed. 1 Samuel Johnson died suddenly — a man killed by 
falling a Tree. 

17. 2 funerals. 

22. 2 funerals. 

24. Made a new will. 

27. Had company to supper. 

28. 4 th Assembly night. 

31. Rain, violent S. E. storm. Great freshets. Water 
higher over Worcester bridge the morning following than 
ever I knew it to be. 

February, 1807. 
Worcester. 
1. Worcester bridge impassable. Very great freshet. 

6. Went to Boston in Stage to meet turnpike Directors. 

7. Went with the Worcester Directors of the Turnpike 
to view the road at Newton. Very cold. Dined at Mr. 
Peck's. 

9. Slept at M r Weld's in Boston. Company settled 
with Mr. Penniman. 

10. Left Boston this morning past 9 "Clock and ar- 
rived at Worcester at ^ past 4 "Clock. 

11. Last assembly this Evening. 

13. Heavy rain began this Evening. 

14. Rain continued all this day & night. 



north corner of Main and Pleasant streets, his estate consisting of about one hun- 
dred and fifty acres and extending westward over the hill. Judge Paine married, 
18 December, 17S5, Elizabeth, daughter of Gardiner Chandler, of Worcester. 
[Porn, Worcester, 5 August, 1759. Died, Worcester, 7 October, 1840.] 

'The Columbian Museum, which at this time was on the site later occupied by 
the Boston Museum, had been previously destroyed by fire 15 January, 1803. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 35 

15. Rain continues — Worcester bridge not passable — 
freshet higher than a fortnight since. 

17. Many mills, Bridges &c. carried away, and much 
damage done by freshet. 

18. Another remarkable freshet. 

19. Company to supper on Venison. 

23. No sleighing for more than a fortnight past. 

24. 8 inches snow. Bad Colds very prevalent. 

25. Supped with Col. Clap. 1 New painted room made 
me very sick. 

26. Pleasant. Went to Lancaster with Eliza, and to 
Harvard & Sterling. 

27. Dined at Sterling — returned to Worcester. 

March, 1807. 

2. Town meeting. Town objected to the Deed of 
Land I gave for a Charity House. 2 

3. Miss H. Weld went to Boston with my son in the 
stage. Dined yesterday with Mr. Dan 1 . Waldo, jun r . at 
his father's. 3 



1 Daniel Clap as a boy served an apprenticeship to a carpenter. In April, 1774, 
he served on the famous grand jury which refused to be sworn if Chief Justice 
Oliver presided on the bench, and presented a formal protest to the court, which 
was one of the earliest overt acts of the Revolution. 

He was Register of Deeds from 1784 to 1814, and represented Worcester in the 
General Court from 1806 to 1810. He lived at the south corner of Main and Park 
streets in the house which was afterwards owned and occupied by Charles Allen. 

[Born, Sudbury, 1740. Died, Worcester, 23 March, 1827.] 

2 Mr. Thomas offered to the town a lot of land at the east end of Thomas street 
for a poor-farm, upon certain conditions which, however, do not appear upon 
the records. 

See entry and note, 5 January, 1818. 

3 Daniel Waldo, the son of Cornelius and Faith Savage Waldo, was a hard- 
ware merchant in Boston as early as 1749. In 1776 he removed to Providence, 
and in March of the following year to Lancaster. Five years later he came 
to Worcester and opened a store at Lincoln square, near the bridge over Mill- 



36 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. Mrs. Legate, Miss Calef and Miss Morris came from 
Leominster. 

7. Dined with Mr. Sam 1 . Chandler. My son returned 
from Boston. 

9. Company to dine & sup. Bad colds very prevalent 
for sometime past and at present. 

12. Rev. Sam 1 . Stillman of Boston died. 1 

16. Dined with S. Chandler. 

18. At Coolidge's. 2 

19. Dined with the British Consul, Dr. Paine, 3 S. Waldo 
& S. Chandler at Coolidge's. 



brook, and soon after took his son into partnership with him. He built for 
their store the first brick block in Worcester, just south of Court Hill, where Granite 
Row later 'stood, and their business has been carried on by their successors, on 
the same spot, to the present time. In 1791 he relinquished the business to his 
son. Mr. Waldo lived in the John Chandler house on the east side of Lincoln 
square. He married, 3 May, 1757, Rebecca, daughter of Nicholas and Martha 
Saunders Salisbury, of Boston. 

[Born, Boston, 29 October, 1724. Died, Worcester, 8 December, 1808.] 

1 Rev. Samuel Stillman, minister of the First Baptist Church in Boston, 1705- 
1807. 

2 In 1806, Nathaniel Coolidge succeeded Moses Chapin as keeper of the Hey- 
wood Tavern, or Central Hotel. In April, 1808, he relinquished this and opened 
another inn "a few rods east of the South Meeting-house." 

3 William Paine, the eldest son of Timothy and Sarah Chandler Paine of Worces- 
ter, was graduated from Harvard in 1708, his name being the second in a class 
of forty, at a time when the names were arranged according to the dignity of families. 
He studied medicine with Dr. Edward A. Holyoke of Salem, a distinguished physi- 
cian of that time, and began to practice in Worcester in 1771. 18 January, 1773, 
he entered into partnership with Levi Shephard and Ebenezer Hunt of Northamp- 
ton "as Traders in the Art, Mystery & Business [of] an apothecary and of the 
Practice of Physick," and opened the first drug store in Worcester, at Lincoln 
square. This partnership lasted until July, 1783. 

Dr. Paine early attached himself to the loyalist cause, and is supposed to have 
assisted his uncle, James Putnam, in drawing up the famous protest of the fifty- 
two Loyalists of Worcester, in 1771. In the autumn of that year he went to England 
for the purpose, it is said, of completing hi- medical studies, hut on his return in 
May, 1775, he found that he had been denounced as a loyalist, and he immediately 
took passage again for England. In the following November he received the degree 
ol \1 1). from the University of Aberdeen and was soon after appointed an apothc- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 37 

21. Bad travelling. S. Armstrong, junV was at 
Worcester. 

22. British Consul dined with [me], as did D r . Paine 
& Mr. Bancroft. My eyes much inflamed. 



cary to the English forces in America. He served in Rhode Island and New York 
until January, 1781, when he sailed for England with Lord Winchelsea and his 
family, but the vessel being driven out of her course by storms, they landed at 
Lisbon, and he spent several months on the continent as physician to that family. 
While he was in London in 1782, he was admitted licentiate of the Royal College 
of Physicians. He returned to New York in March of that year, and in October 
was appointed "Physician to His Majesty's Hospitals within the district of North 
America commanded by Sir Guy Carleton" and was stationed at Halifax. After 
the withdrawal of the troops in 1783 he was retired on half pay, and the island 
of La T?te, in Passamaquoddy Bay, having been granted to him for his services, 
he took possession of it in the following year, and built a house, intending to live 
there permanently; but he remained there for a few months only, and then re- 
moved to St. John and resumed his practice. While there he was elected a member 
of the Assembly of New Brunswick, and served as its clerk, was a justice for the 
county of Sunbury, and in October, 1785, was appointed by Sir John Went worth 
Principal Deputy Surveyor of Woods in the Province of New Brunswick. In 
the summer of 1787, by permission of the War Office, he went to Salem, where 
he had a good professional business, and after the death of his father, 17 July, 
1793, he returned to Worcester, and occupied the family estate on Lincoln street 
until his death. 

Dr. Paine was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of 
the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen. In 1790 he was elected 
an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and was also a member 
of the Linnaean Society, the Essex Historical Society, and one of the founders 
of the American Antiquarian Society, of which he was vice-president from 1813 
to 1816. 

He married, 23 September, 1773, Lois, daughter of Timothy Orne of Salem, 
by whom he had six children. 

[Born, Worcester, 5 June, 1750. Died, Worcester, 19 April, 1833.] 

'Samuel Turell Armstrong, after serving an apprenticeship to Manning and 
Loring, printers and booksellers, in Boston, began business on State street with 
Jonathan Belcher. At the dissolution of this partnership, which was of short 
duration, he opened a printing office in Charlestown and there published the first 
numbers of a religious magazine, the Panoplist. In 1811 he returned to Boston 
and began a successful career as a bookseller and publisher. 

He was twice a representative to the General Court from Boston, and for one 
year a senator from Suffolk; was lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts for two 
terms, and in 1834, on the resignation of Governor Davis, was acting governor 
for ten months; and was mayor of Boston in 1830. 

[Born, Dorchester. 29 April, 1784. Died, Boston, 26 March, 1850] 



38 American Antiquarian Society. 

23. Court Common Pleas. 

25. Dined with my son, at his house with Company. 

26. Company, the Court dined with me. 
31. Mr. Bancroft removed. 1 

April, 1807. 

Worcester. 

G. Misses Canada removed into my house that Mr. 
Bancroft removed out of. 

8. New Bills, called Facilities, 2 which I projected for 
Worcester bank, were first put in circulation. 



1 Rev. Aaron Bancroft first lived in Worcester on Salisbury street, in the house 
later occupied by Anthony Chase and John S. ('. Knowlton, where the Armory 
now stands. He then occupied the house on the same street, in which George 
Bancroft was born, and at this time removed to the east side of Main street, a 
little south of Thomas, where he lived until his death in 1839. 

2 The country banks had for some time previous to this been subjected to great 
annoyance by having their bills, as soon as they were issued, bought by Boston 
brokers, who demanded specie for their redemption, and by withdrawing them 
from the market, prevented their free circulation. As a result of this continued 
run upon them, those who owed the banks were compelled to pay installments 
on their notes in foreign bills, i. e. those issued by banks outside of Boston, many 
of which were counterfeits, and to pay a discount of one and one-half or two per 
cent. To put a stop to this practice, the Worcester Bank, with several others, issued 
notes called facilities, "to prevent," as the Massachusetts Spy announced, "the 
scandalous exertions constantly practiced on the public under a pretense that 
the bills of Country Banks are not so good as those of Boston, and thereby robbing 
the industrious and enterprising of the just profits of their exertions. To crush 
such vermin is the interest and duty of every good citizen. By encouraging the 
circulation of bills which do not allow these Harpies to drain the vaults of specie, 
a complete stop is put to their nefarious purposes." 

A protest immediately arose in Boston. The Boston Repertory of 19 May, 1807, 
under t lie lieading, "Beware of Bank Notes which promise no payment." says 
that they are desired to "caution the public against being deceived by a new species 
of Hank Notes, which are receivable at the Banks from which they issue for debts 
due to those particular Banks, but which for other purposes are worthless than 
blank paper. We have yet seen these bills from two Banks only, viz. the Worcester 
and Coos Banks. To prove the grOSsneSS of this imposition, it is only necessary 
to copy the face of the Bill, which is — The President, Directors and Company 
of the - - Bank promise to RECEIVE of - or Hearer, this Bill for FIVE 

DOLLARS, in payment of debts due at said Bank, &c." 



Jbiary of Isaiah Thomas. 39 

9. Fast day. 

14. Attended Court's Com ee on turnpike 1 day. 

15. My son went to Springfield. 1 



The Worcester Bank estimated the facilities in discounts at the same value as 
its other bills, and they were issued and accounted for as a part of the amount 
which by law it was permitted to discount on its capital. Traders took them 
in payment of debts and sold their goods for them at par with foreign bills. They 
were offered in exchange for foreign bills in the Worcester papers, and on 10 June, 
1807, Mr. Thomas calls on all those who are indebted to him to make payment, 
and offers to receive Worcester Bank facilities equal to specie. 

They were evidently in circulation for several years, for on 6 January, 1810, 
in the only record made of them on the books of the bank, it was "voted that 
the bills denominated Facilities, which were put in circulation, and have been 
returned, be burnt, the sum of Forty eight Thousand two hundred & twenty dollars 
comprizing Twenty three hundred bills of five Dollars each, and Thirty six hun- 
dred and seventy two bills of ten Dollars each were accordingly burnt in our presence. 

DANIEL WALDO, President. 
ISAIAH THOMAS, 
SAMUEL FLAGG, 
BENJ. HEYWOOD, 
OLIVER FISKE, 

Directors." 



'Nezv Book/tore. 



I 



ISAIAH THOMAS, Jun. 
NFORMS his Friends and the 

Public, that he is now opening in 

S P RI NG FIELD, 

(diredtly under the Print ingoffice of Mr. Henry 
Brewer, who will fuperintend in the bufinefs) 
a general affortment of 

BOOKS & STATIONARY, 

All which will be fold at the lo-vcft Boston prices. 
Public and private Libraries fupplied on reafona- 
ble terms. — All orders will be attended to with 
the ftricleft punctuality and every favor gratefully 
acknowledged. 

®^» Corn, Rye, Wheat or Oats, will 
be received at the above Store the fame as cafh. 
June 27, 1805. (81. 3 m. 

— Massachusetts Spy, 21 August, 1805. 

Isaiah Thomas, Jr., at this time (1807) sold his Springfield store. 



40 American Antiquarian Society. 

18. My son returned from Springfield. 

19. Mr. Penniman, his new Wife and her sister, with 
his daughter arrived from Boston, on their way to Albany. 
First warm day this spring. 

20. Mr. Penniman, &c, proceeded on to Albany. 

21. Supreme Court. 

22. My brother Joshua, 1 came from Lancaster. Mr. 
Mycall. 

23. My brother returned. Some company to dine. 

24. Dug up garden yesterday. 

26. Rainbow at 6 °clock this morning. Rain, growing 

season. 

28. Went to Boston, with Han. Frazier and Levi in 
eoachee and opened house in Boston to meet Directors of 
Turnpike. 

29. Attended directors' meeting turnpike. 

30. Attended turnpike directory. 3 horses killed by 
lightning in a stage from Portland, a barn struck and 
burnt by lightning at Cohassett. Heavy shower of hail 
at Newton. Dined with Mr. John Andrews. 2 The lightning 
on the 30 th struck a house in Roxbury. — A vessel also 
at Boston. 



1 Joshua Thomas was bred t<> a trade in West Cambridge and after being engaged 
in business there and in Brighton, he removed to Lancaster after t lie evacuation 
of Boston, and soon after came to Worcester, and was employed by his brother 
as a post rider. , hist before the close of the Revolution he returned to Lancas- 
ter, and bought a farm adjoining Bolton. He was twice married, first to Mary 
Twing, of Brighton, and then to Mary, daughter of John Armstrong, of Boston. 
I Lorn, Boston, .'! March, 1745. Died, Lancaster, 4 February, 1831. ] 

-John Andrews, a brother of Ebenezer T. Andrews, was a hardware merchant 
in Boston. lie lived at this time on the estate at the northerly corner of Winter 
and Tremonl streets, which had been formerly occupied by Sir Francis Bernard, 
and Larl Percy. He afterwards removed to Jamaica Plain, where he died in L821. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 4l 

May, 1807. 
Boston. 

2. Paid Calender & Jenkins 50 dols. 

3. Sat 1 st time in pew No. 25, which I purchased in 
Christ Church. Dined with Mr. Wm. Andrews. 

4. Isa. & Eliza came from Worcester. Met with Com- 
mittee on accounts of Turnpike Directors. Received a 
new commission as a Justice of Peace for the County of 
Worcester for another seven years dated Jan y . 30 th 1807. 

5. Miss W. dined with us. Turnpike directors. 

7. Turnpike directors met at Vila's. Paid M r . Fro- 
thingham 100 dols, towards Coachee. Dined at Vila's 
with T. directors. Paid yesterday 100 dollars towards 
Pew in Christ church. Mr. Parsons put in teeth for Eliza 
16 dols. 

8. Isa. & Miss Weld dined with me. 

9. Isa returned to Worcester. 

10. Went to Church. 

11. Went to Theatre. 

12. Walked nearly all round Boston. 

13. Levi carried out Misses Weld, Miss Bass, etc. Went 
to theatre. 

14. Rev. Mr. Bancroft lodged with us in Boston. 
1G. Rode out. 

20. Theatre. 

21. Subscribed to the Atheneum 1 as a Proprietor. 



1 The "Boston Athenaeum" was an outgrowth of the Anthology Club, an association 
of gentlemen for literary purposes which had been formed by Rev. William Em- 
erson in 1804. In that year they began to publish a periodical called the Monthly 
Anthology or Magazine of Polite Literature. 

In 1806, it established a reading room, which proved so successful that a library 
was added, under the management of a board of trustees. The first rooms were 



42 American Antiquarian Society. 

23. Levi wont to Worcester with Mary Armstrong in 
the Coachee. 

25. Mrs. Thomas, Isa's wife, Mary Rebecca, Parson 
Bancroft & Mary S. came from Worcester with Levi in 
Coachee. I went to Framingham to meet them. 

27. Election. 

28. Eliza went to Lynn with M r . Payson. Attended a 
Grand Encampment of K. T. James Sullivan ' declared to 
be chosen Governor. 

29. This day I became a Member of the Charitable 
Fire Society. 2 — Attended the members to Church. — Several 
pieces of Musick performed. Luther Richardson, Esq r 



in Joy's buildings, on the west corner of Congress and Water streets, and then in 
Scollay's building on Tremont street. 

After the incorporation of the Athenaeum in February, 1S07, it occupied three 
rooms in the old wooden building, covered with rough cast, next north from the 
King's Chapel burying-ground, which had formerly been occupied by the rectors 
of King's Chapel. The first room was the news or reading room; the second con- 
tained the library of the Athenaeum and the American Academy; and the third 
the private library of John Quincy Adams. 

The corporation organized 7 April, 1807, with Theophilus Parsons for its first 
President. Mr. Thomas's name appears on the list of the original subscribers. 

1 Mr. Sullivan had been prominent in the public life of Massachusetts since the 
beginning of the Revolution, holding many important offices, and from 1790 to 
this time had been attorney-general. He was the first democratic governor of 
the state, and his election, which closed an exciting campaign, was considered 
a great triumph by the friends of Jefferson. Party spirit had been increasing 
rapidly for some time and the newspapers bad been unusually bitter and viru- 
lent, Governor Strong being represented as an enemy to liberty, and Mr. Sullivan 
as opposed to order and virtue, and destitute of moral principle. Over 81,000 
votes were cast, of which Mr. Sullivan received 42,000. and, as in 1806, there was 
a democratic majority in both branches of t he legislature. His administration 
was characterized by a candor and impartiality which, while it disappointed many 
of his supporters, who expected to find him more of a party politician, won for 
him the respect of both parties. He was re-elected in 1808, and died during his 
second term of office, 10 December, of that year. 

2 The Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society was incorporated in 1794. "for the 
purpose of relieving such as may suffer by lire, and of stimulating genius to use- 
ful discoveries tending to secure the lives and property of their fellow men from 
destruction by that element." In addition to giving this relief, a committee was 
appointed annually to examine and award premiums for engines and inventions 
which came within the object of the society. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 43 

delivered an oration. Governor Sullivan and Lieut. Gov 1 '. 
Lincoln x wore this day first sworn into Office. I was present. 

The first constitution of the society required that annually, on the last Wednes- 
day in May, "a public discourse, expressive of the advantages arising from charitable 
institutions, shall be delivered before the Society, by some person to be appointed 
by the Government for that purpose, at which time a collection shall be made 
for the benefit of the Society's fund." 

At the conclusion of the annual meetings, which were held in the Court House 
or the Old State House, the members marched in procession to King's Chapel 
where the exercises were held. 

1 Levi Lincoln, the third son of Enoch and Rachel Fearing Lincoln of Hingham, 
Mass., was apprenticed to an Lronsmith, but his love of study induced him to re- 
linquish this trade, and after six months of preparation he entered Harvard and 
was graduated in the class of 1772. Happening to be present in court while John 
Adams was pleading, he was so carried away by his eloquence that he changed 
his original intention of entering the ministry, and studied law with Daniel Farn- 
ham in Newburyport for about a year, and then entered the office of Joseph Hawley 
in Northampton. He marched to Cambridge with the minute-men as a volunteer 
in 1775, and soon after was admitted to the bar in Hampshire County, and imme- 
diately opened an office in Worcester. The greater part of the leading men of 
the county were Tories, and when the courts were re-opened in 1775, after having 
been closed a year, only two lawyers remained: John Sprague of Lancaster and 
Joshua Upham of Brookfield. A wide field was thus opened to him in his pro- 
fession and he soon acquired a large practice. He was undoubtedly the head of 
the county bar, from the close of the Revolution to the beginning of the century; 
was retained in every case of importance; and for many years constantly attended 
the courts in Middlesex and Hampshire. 

But his professional duties did not prevent him from taking an active part in 
public affairs. In 1775 he was appointed Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas 
for the County of Worcester and was Judge of Probate from January, 1777, to 1781. 
In 1779 he was special commissioner to prosecute the government claims against 
the large estates of the refugees, under the absentee act, and commissioner to hasten 
the payment of the Continental tax. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts 
Convention for forming the state constitution in 1780. The next year he was 
elected by the General Court a representative to the Continental Congress, but 
declined the election. In 1783 the degree of barrister at law was conferred on 
him by the Supreme Court, an honor conferred on only one other member of the 
county bar after the Revolution — Judge Sprague of Lancaster. In 179G he was 
a representative to the General Court and in the following year was in the state 
senate. In the autumn of 1800, in spite of his democratic principles, he succeeded 
Dwight Foster as representative to the Seventh Congress. He took his seat 4 
March, 1801, but the next day was appointed by Jefferson, Attorney General of 
the United States and was provisional Secretary of State until the arrival of Madi- 
son at Washington in the following May. A few days after his appointment, Albert 
Gallatin, before his own appointment as Secretary of the Treasury, wrote of the 
two Massachusetts members of the Cabinet, General Dearborn the Secretary of 



44 American Antiquarian Society. 

30. Mr. Bancroft & Mrs. Thomas, jun 1 '. wont to Worces- 
ter. Rode out with Mrs. T. in the afternoon. 



War and Mr. Lincoln: "Mr. Lincoln is a good lawyer, a fine scholar, a man of 
great discretion and sound judgment, and of the mildest and most amiable manners. 
He has never, I should think from his manners, been out of his own state, or mixed 
much with the world, except on business. Both are men of 1776, sound and de- 
cided Republicans; both are men of the strictest integrity; and both, but Mr. 
Lincoln principally, have a great weight of character to the Eastward with both 
parties." 

He retained this office until December, 1804, when, unwilling to be separated 
longer from his family, he sent his resignation to Mr. Jefferson, who replied: "I 
received last night your letter, proposing to resign your office; and I received it 
with real affliction. It would have been my greatest happiness, to have kept 
together to the end of my term our executive family; for our harmony and cor- 
diality have really made us but as one family. Yet, I am a father, and have been 
a husband. I know the sacred duties which these relations impose; the feelings 
they inspire; and that they are not to be resisted by a warm heart. I yield, there- 
fore, to your wishes. You carry with you, my entire approbation of your official 
conduct, my thanks for your services, my regrets on losing them, and my affec- 
tionate friendship." 

In 1800 and 1810 Mr. Lincoln was a member of the council of Massachusetts. 
In 1807 and 1808 he was lieutenant-governor of the state, and on the death of 
Governor Sullivan, 10 December, 1808, became acting governor. The next 
year he was a candidate for the same office, but was defeated by Christopher (lore, 
the Federal candidate. 

In 1811, on appointing him an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, Madison wrote to him: "You will see by the commission which 
will be forwarded from the Department of State, that I have taken the liberty 
of nominating you to the Senate as successor to Judge dishing, notwithstanding 
your remonstrances against a recall into the national service. I was induced to 
this step, not only by my personal wishes, but by those of others, between whom 
and yourself exists all the reciprocal respect that can add weight to them, and 
particularly by their persuading themselves, that your patriotism would acquiesce 
in an appointment, however contrary it might be to your previous inclinations. 
I venture to (latter myself that in this we may not be disappointed- and that, 
in every event, you will regard the liberty I have taken in imposing the dilemma 
upon you, with the indulgence due to my motives, audio the great esteem ami 
sincere friendship of which I pray you to accept my renewed assurances." Weak- 
ness of sight which resulted temporarily in almost total blindness, compelled him 
to decline this honor. 

In 17812 Mr. Lincoln bought of John Hancock his estate on Lincoln street, where 
he lived for the remainder of his life. He married 25 November. 17S1, Martha, 
daughter of Daniel ami Rebecca Salisbury Waldo. 

|Morn, Ilingham. 15 May, 1710 Died, Worcester, 11 April, 1820] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



45 



31. Only 2 days this month that the family could do 
without fire in the keeping room. 

June, 1S07. 
1. Artillery election. 

4. Worcester Turnpike Directors met. 

5. Sold my son's pair of horses to Elbridge Gerry, 
Esq. for 300 dols. 



Cash carried to Boston 



D. 973.00 

Cash received in Boston. 
37.12* 



May 1. Grand Lodge 37.12*. Of Cunningham 

2. AtM.B. for Mrs.Thomas 14.00 19. Of Mr. Stone 

4. Of Mr. Lyon's Estate 18.25 

Arrived at Boston April 28th, 1807. 
Money Paid. 

28. Bread, D. 0.10 
On Journey to town, 1.60 

29. Meat, Milk & Vegetables, 0.80 
Mr. E. T. Andrews, divi- 
dend, 69.00 

Fish, &c, 0.35 

30. Miss Weld, dividend, &c, 5.00 
H. Frazier, 3.00 
Agricultural Society, 3.00 

May 1. Callender for Groceries, 21.68 

2. Mr. Pons's Acct., 23.75 

Paid Baker for bread, 9. — 

Do. Calender & Jenkins, 50. — 



20.00 
223.00 



Charity, 

Hat, 

Hay, 

Wood, 

Sugar, 

Boots, Morse, 

Pew Bill, 

At Market, 

Tombstone, 

Tea, 

Sugar, 

M> Bigelow 

Shoes, Mary, 

Potatoes, 

Frothingham, 

Do., 

Brandy, Wine 

Cream, &c. 

Taxes, 

Soap 42, Meat 80, 

Paid Mr. E., debt 

Pd. Tucker's note. 



Fee, 



Gin. 



-.20 
7.00 

39.00 

22.20 
0.25 

23.00 
100.00 
1.88* 
5 — 
0.54 
0.87* 
5.00 
1.874 
0.12* 
100.00 
100.00 
2.92 
0.75 

44.92 

10, 1.32 

6.70 

16.00 



Paid M'. Denny forWine, 80.21 
Lemons, &c, 0.48 



12. 


Starch, Fish, Washer- 






woman, 


0.92 




Theatre, and sundries, 


1.45 




Cleaning windows, 


1.00 




for Eliza, &c, 


.25 


13. 


Meat, Oysters, &c. Thea- 




tre, 


2.124 


14. 


Market, &c, 


1.45 




Hannah Frazier, 


2.00 


15. 


Sawing Wood, 


.50 


16. 


Beef, Fish, Cream, 


1.71 




Repairing Watch, 


2.39 


19. 


Charity, 


7.— 




Acknowledging deed, 


.25 




Beef, 


.20 




Oil for harness, 


.18 




Sent to Worcester. 


20.00 


20. 


Theatre, 


3.00 




Marketing, Soap, &c, 


7.50 




Sawing wood. 


0.50 


22. 


Expenses, Miss A. to 






Worcester, 


1.45 




Hannah Frazier, 


7.34 




Eliza, 


2.66 




Marketing, 


2.124 


25. 


Stage hire to Framingham,1.86 




Expenses for dinner, &c. 


4.25 




Expenses on Saturday Miss 




A. & Levi toWorcestei 


,1.45 


26. 


Comody, Greens, 

Paid Mrs. Weld for Mrs. 


.374 




Thomas, 


18.00 


27. 


Election Gifts to Children 2.00 




Fish, Ale. 


0.65 


28. 


Marketing, &c, 


22.50 


29. 


Charity, 


1.25 


30. 


Marketing & Wine, 


2.00 



46 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. Mr. Jackson paid his Rent to the first inst. 
10. Went to Worcester in a Chaise with Eliza Weld. 

12. Rec' 1 the last payment of the County for building 
Court house. 1 Paid bank 500 dollars. Sat by a fire this 
evening. 

13. Fire very agreeable. Qualified under my new 
commission as a Justice of Peace. 

16. Went to Boston in a Chaise with Miss E. Weld on 
the 10 Ul and returned to Boston with her this day. 

20. Rode to Dorchester Point with Mr. E. T. Andrews 
& the Misses Weld. 



1 In March, 1801, the Court of Sessions appointed Daniel Clap, Isaiah Thomas 
and Salem Towne a committee to report a suitable place for a Court House, and 
to ascertain the quantity and boundaries of the land belonging to the County upon 
which the Court House then stood. This committee reported at the same term 
of the Court "that the site where the present Court house stands, together with 
a peice of land adjoining the same, which will be presented gratis to the County 
by Isaiah Thomas, and also another peice of land lately belonging to the Town 
of Worcester, which will be presented gratis by M r . Samuel Chandler, provided 
the same is appropriated for the accommodation of the Court house, or lies com- 
mon, is, from its vicinity to the gaol, its pleasantness, dryness of soil &». the most 
eligible of the many that havi come under their observation, and where the new 
Court house ought, in their opinion to be erected. The land proposed to be given 
by M r . Thomas adjoins and lies back of the land now owned by the County and 
of that proposed to be given by M r . Chandler — is about 100 feet in front & about 
112 feet in rear. The condition of the gift is, that the land now occupied by the 
Court house is to lie open & common. M r . Thomas will give another convenient 
spot for a vault & necessary house, and engages not to erect any building at the 
East end of his new wood house that may incommode the new Court house." 

This report was accepted and the building was erected chieHy under the direction 
of Mr. Thomas. On a silver plate inclosed in a leaden jar which was placed in 
the corner-stone was this inscription: — "The corner stone was laid Oct. 1. 1801, 
by Isaiah Thomas, Esq. who with William Caldwell, Esq. Sheriff of the County, 
and Hon. Salem Towne, were appointed a committee for building and completing 
this (now intended) Court House. The old Court House now stands two feet south- 
east from this spot, 1801." 

In 1804 the committee appointed to examine the accounts of the building com- 
mitter state in their report that Mr. Thomas had made no allowance for his services 
and "are of opinion that. Isaiah Thomas Esq™, services as Agent for building the 
Court bouse, i-. at least, fully equal to his proportion of the expense of repairing 
the Court house hill. And that allowing the whole amount of the Account re- 
ported within, said Thomas agrees to accept the same in full for his services." 




PRINTING OFFICE AND COURT HOUSE. From "Geography of Worcester County," 1830 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



47 



21. Went to Medford to see Mr. Bigelow, with Mrs. 

Thomas & Miss Weld. 

22. Mrs. Thomas, Eliza, Mary Rebecca etc. returned 
to Worcester in Coachee. 

23. Paid Maj r . Murray 1 20 dollars. 

24. Went to Lynn. Mount Carmel Lodge installed. 

25. Levi returned in the Coachee from Worcester. 

26. Bought bill of Exchange of Dan 1 Murray, £63 
shil. 9. 

27. Sent Horse and Chaise to Worcester by Maf Mur- 
ray. Paid Maj r Murray 20 dollars. 

29. Mary B. came to see me. 

30. Dined with M r . J. Andrews. 



1 Daniel Murray, the son of Colonel John Murray, of Rutland, was graduated 
from Harvard in 1771, studied law and opened an office in Rutland, but probably 



June 



June 







Cash Received. 






2. 


Of M'. West, 


42.00 


18. 


H. Frazier, 


2.00 


3. 


Rent of Parsons, 


75.00 


19. 


Chaise, 


10.50 


6. 


of M« Jackson, 


150.00 




Garden, &c, 


3.00 




Of M*. Tappan, 


150.00 




Store sundry times, 


10.00 


10. 


Store Worces'., 


26.00 




Isa's Tickets 


14.00 




County, 


-12(5.00 




Coy., 


20.00 


13. 


At Sykes, 


27.00 












Cash paid 


in Boston. 




1. 


Gave away, 


.75 




Sundries, 


3.80 


2. 


Paid J. West, 


18.00 




Interest, 


30.00 




Ticket, 


6.50 




Land, Hey wood, 


74.00 




Cream, &c, 


0.25 


14. 


Sundries, 


3.00 




Grain, 


2.124 




Curtis, 


5.00 




Book, 


1.62* 


16. 


Expenses to Boston, 


2.00 




Frazier, 


0.25 


18. 


Chaise, 


15.00 




Levi, 


1.25 




Frazier, 


2.00 


3. 


M>. Parsons for Eliza, 17.00 


19. 


Grain, &c. &c, 


5.00 




Marketing, 


1.45 


20. 


Marketing 


2.00 




Armstrong & Belcher, 18.00 


23. 


Paid Maj r . Murray, 


20.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


14.00 


25. 


Mackrel &c. &c, 


.50 


5. 


Sundries, 


0.50 


26. 


Lamb, Washing, &c. 




6. 


Marketing, 


2.10 




Wine, 


2.00 


8. 


Sundries, 


0.50 


27. 


Marketing, tobacco, Sal- 




9. 


Marketing & hay, 


17.00 




mon, 


3.00 




Maj r . Murray, 


7o.on 




Maj r . Murray, 


20.00 


10. 


Expenses to Worces 


ter, 1.50 


28. 


Charity 2 dols. sundries 




12. 


Pd. Bank, 


500.00 




50, 


2.50 




Paid towards Turnp 


ike 




Hay, 


12.50 




Shares, 


120.00 









48 American Antiquarian Society. 

July, 1S07. 

2. Saw Alex 1 ". Thomas in Boston. Worcester Turnpike 
Directors met. 

3. First string beans. 

4. Dined at Faneuil Hall. The Hon. John Adams late 
President of' the United States, and the Hon. Robert 
Treat Paine, two who signed the Declaration of Independ- 
ence were present — about 450 dined in the Hall, which 
was handsomely decorated. 

6. Went to Worcester with H. Frazier and Levi in 
Coachee. Mathew Carey ' of Philadelphia, called to see me. 

9. Walked thro the woods, on the Turnpike ground, 



did not practice long, as the only record of his having attended the court in Worcester 
was at the June term in 1774. He afterwards became an officer in the British ser- 
vice and rose to the rank of major of dragoons. After his retirement on half pay 
he spent the greater part of his time in the United States. 

1 Mathew Carey, a native of Ireland, and a well known publisher and philan- 
thropist, was apprenticed to a bookseller in Dublin at the age of fifteen, and two 
years later his first production, an essay on duelling, was printed in the Hibernian 
Journal. In 1779, excitement caused by a pamphlet urging the repeal of the penal 
code against Catholics compelled him to flee to Paris, where he knew Franklin 
and Lafayette, and was for a time under the younger Didot. After a year's ab- 
sence he returned and established the Freeman's Journal, and in 1783 the Volun- 
teers' Journal, which by its bold and determined opposition to the government 
became a powerful factor in politics, and eventually brought about the legislative 
independence of Ireland; but in 1784, he was imprisoned for a too violent attack, 
and after his release in the fall of that year he came to America, where Lafayette 
provided the means to establish him in business in Philadelphia. In the following 
January he began the publication of the Pennsylvania Herald, the first newspaper 
in the United States to furnish accurate reports of legislative debates, he acting 
as his own reporter. In October, 1786, with others, he began the publication of 
the Columbia Magazine, and in the following January, the American Museum, 
which he conducted for six years. 

In 17<ll, he married and opened a small bookstore in Philadelphia and event- 
ually became the most eminent publisher in the country. He retiroil from active 
business life in 1*24. He was the author of numerous pamphlets, many of them 
on political subjects, and of several books which were successful at the time. 

[Born, Dublin, Ireland, 28 January, 1760. Died, Philadelphia, 16 Sept., 1839.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 49 

to the floating; bridge on the Pond, crossed the bridge on 
foot, for the first time. 1 . 

10. Rode to the Pond bridge with Mrs. T. &c., and we 
walked over to the Shrewsbury side. 

11. Went to Long Pond Island with several gentlemen 
to spend the day. My sister, Mrs. McCulloch - embarked 
at Philadelphia for Boston. 

12. Young man by name of Grey drowned at Long 
Pond — he went in to bathe. 

14. Went to Long Pond Bridge with a number. 

15. Went to Holden. 

17. Went to Leominster, with Mrs. Thomas, &c., to 
funeral of Col. Legate. High handed mob & riot in Worces- 
ter, Amos Watson a man about 60, and a woman by the 
name of Moore, were paraded thro' the streets on a horse. 3 



1 This was the first bridge built at this place, and cost about $9,000. It con- 
sisted of twp or three tiers of round timbers laid lengthways and then crossways, 
and then overlaid with a course of hewn timber, covered with plank, and fastened 
to large abutments at the shores. This soon proved to be weak and after a few 
years was succeeded by another. Ward's "History of Shrewsbury." — Worcester 
Magazine, II., 13. 

2 Susannah, the fourth child of Moses Thomas the elder, was born in Boston, 
and was married four times: first, to the master of a ship, with whom she lived 
in Edenton, N. C. ; second to Captain Hyman, in Baltimore; third to Free- 
man, who had been a captain in the army, with whom she lived in Philadelphia; 
and fourth, to Captain Hugh Macculloch. a very respectable and wealthy citizen 
of Philadelphia. 

Manuscript family record of Isaiah Thomas in the ■possession of the American 
Antiquarian Society. 

3 A number of the citizens of Worcester, many of them well known, were in- 
dicted for participating in this riot, the indictment setting forth that they "on 
the tenth day of July last past, at said Worcester, with force and arms, that is to 
say with Staves and clubs did riotously and unlawfully meet and assemble them- 
selves together to disturb the peace of this Commonwealth, and being so assembled 
and met together did then and there unlawfully break, and enter the House of 
Sewall Moore and break and destroy his furniture and assault and beat his children 
and upon Mehitable Moore, Wife of said Sewall Moore being then and there in the 
Peace of God and this Commonwealth did commit an Assault and her did take 
and imprison and place upon a wooden rail, and with noise and clamour to the 

4 



50 American Antiquarian Society. 

Mr. Carey of Philadelphia, called on me again on his return 
home, but I was absent, as I was when he called before. 

18. Mrs. McCulloch arrived at Boston. 

20. She came to Worcester in the stage. 

23. Mr. Bancroft's Life of Washington went to press. 1 

24. My sister very ill of the Cholera Morbis. 
26. Visit from Miss Lucretia Maccarty. 2 

30. Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. McCulloch, Eliza, H. Frazier 
went to Boston with Levi in Coachee. 

31. Very cold nights for the season. First load of new 
hay received not till this day. 



great disgrace of the said Mehitable Moore, and to the disturbance of the good 
citizens of said Town did carry her, the said Mehitable Moore upon said rail through 
the public streets to the distance of one Mile, and other wrongs, injuries and enor- 
mities then and there did, to the great damage of the said Sewall Moore, his Wife 
and Children, and against the peace of the Commonwealth, and the Law, and in 
evil example to others in the like case to offend." 

Governor Lincoln in his notice of Joseph Allen (Fire Society Reminiscences), 
tells the following story of the trial: Among the defendants was a negro, with 
whom the others, now ashamed of their conduct, and undeniably guilty, did not 
care to be associated in a public trial. To avoid greater exposure and mortifi- 
cation from an investigation of the case, it was arranged that they should severally 
plead guilty to the indictment, and they thus paraded around the bar, with a 
selectman at the head and the negro at the foot of the list. When it came to the 
hitter's turn the Clerk (Mr. Allen), in his usual serious, formal tone, addressed him: 
"Peter Malbone, what say you to this indictment — are you guilty or not guilty?" 
Either not understanding, or forgetting the precise language of those who had 
preceded him, with a curiously quizzical look and showing his teeth, he cried out, 
"Massa Allen. I don't want anything to do with this Court!" 

1 An | Essay | on the | Life | of | George Washington, | Commander in Chief | of 
the | American Army, | through the Revolutionary War; | and the | First President 

I of the | United States. | By Aaron Bancroft, A. A. S. | Pastor of a Congregational 
Church in Worcester. | Worcester: | Printed by Thomas & Sturtevant, I ' I October — 
[807. 8°. 

2 Lucretia, fourteenth child of Hew Thaddeua and Mary GatCOmb Maccarty. 
'Born, Worcester, 15 July, 1762. Died, ( hariestown, N. H., 5 January, 1S10.J 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



51 



August, 1807. 

1. Rec d . 2 d load of hay. 

2. Dined with my son. 

5. 2 notes at Bank. Rec d . Facil 8 . 10 dols. of M r . 
Steele, Milkman to exchange. ■ The money is due to him. 

6. Went to Boston with Charles in the chaise; arrived 
in Boston at 3 o'Clock. Attended meeting of Turnpike 
Directors. (2 days) Travel. 

7. Went up the cupola of the State house in Boston, 
with my sister and Eliza. Paid Eliza 12| dols. 

9. Went to Dorchester after Church with Mrs. T. 

11. Went to Worcester with Mrs. T., my sister, Eliza, 
Miss Weld, H. Frazier, Levi & Charles in Coachee & 
Chaise. 

12. Attended Turnpike contractors to pond — 1 day. 

16. Rev. Mr. Thayer dined with us. 

17. My son and his wife went to Boston & Portsmouth. 
Eye much inflamed. 

19. Rode out with Miss M. 

20. Had a touch of the Dysentery, the first of any 
consequence I ever had. 

21. Miss Maccarty visited us. 



Unpleasant disagreement 



with Miss T. 


















Cash 


paid in Bosi 


on. 








July 1. 


Marketing, 




0.75 






Pine Apples, 




.80 


2. 


Sundries, 




1.25 






Ch. 




3.00 


3. 


Marketing, 




1.78 






ChaJ., 




.50 




Lemons, 




.25 




4. 


Groceries, 




22.00 




Pine Apples, 




.80 










1.25 




Ticket for July 4"' 


at 






7. 


Expenses to 


Worcester, 


2.00 




Faneuil Hall, 




5.00 






Paid Patch, 




35.87 




Sawing wood, 




0.36 






Do. Timber, 




3.00 




Toys for Children, 




1.00 






Do. Post office, 


2.10 




Cakes 




.65 













52 American Antiquarian Society. 

24. Hugh McCulloch of Philadelphia, my Brother in 
Law, a worthy good man died aged 87 — 3 days illness of 
influenza. 

25. My son and his wife returned from Boston, &c. 

26. Miss Maccarty went to Petersham. 

28. Rec d . news of M r . McCulloch's death. 

29. My sister, Mrs. McCulloch returned to Philadelphia 
in the stage in consequence of the death of her husband. 
Anson Whipple accompanied her as far as Newhaven. 

31. Began to feel symptoms of the prevailing Influenza. 
Thousands are now sick with that disorder in every sea- 
port town, and it is fast spreading in the Country. 15,000 
or 20,000 sick at a time in Newyork and 30 or 40,000 at 
a time in Philad a . 

September, 1807. 

1. Mrs. McCulloch travelled night & day, and ar- 
rived last Even g . Aug 1 . 31 at Philadelphia. Old Courts of 
Sessions l end this day. Anson returned from Newhaven. 

2. My brother Joshua visited us, with symptoms of 
influenza. Eliza & Frazier symptoms of do. 

3. Sick — unable to do anything. News of Peace be- 
tween France, Russia & Prussia. 

4. Levi taken with Influenza. — at night Mrs. Thomas 
complained of do. Mrs. Legate and Miss Calef visited us. 



1 This court had been established by an act of 31 May, 1639, which provided 
that " there shall be held in each County a Court of General Sessions of the Peace 
by the Justices of each County to hear and determine all matters relative to the 
ci innervation of the peace, cognizable at common law." It had remained practi- 
cally unchanged until an act of 19 .June, 1807, which provided that it should consist 
of one chief justice and a specified number of associates for the several counties, 
who were to act as the General Court of Sessions. The justices of the new court 
for the County of Worcester were Pliny Merrick, Abraham Lincoln, Moses White, 
John Spurr and John Whiting. In June, 1809, the jurisdiction of the General 
('unit of Sessions was transferred to the County Court of Common Pleas, bul two 
years later its powers were restored. 



Diary of. tsaiah Thomas. 6S 

7. Went with a number to Long Pond island. Special 
Turnpike meet g of Directors. 

9. Went to Sterling, Lancaster & Harvard with Mrs. 
T., Miss Weld, Eliza, Isa & his wife. 

10. Returned. 

11. Miss E. Andrews called on us. Reed, rent from 
Tappan & Parker. 

18. Went to Boston in a chaise with Charles to attend 
meeting of Turnpike Directors. Opened house in Boston, 1 
and slept there with only Charles. 

19. Returned to Worcester with Charles in the Chaise. 
Mr. E. T. Andrews went in a Chaise with his wife, yester- 
day to Worcester — met them at Wheeler's in Framingham. 
Comet made its appearance. 

20. Mr. E. T. Andrews & wife, Isa and wife dined with 
me. 

21. Mr. E. T. Andrews returned to Boston. 

22. Supreme Court — adjourned till tomorrow. 

24. Mr. Edw. Weld came up from Boston. Mrs. An- 
drews returned to Boston. 

26. Mrs. Legate & Miss Calef visited us. 

28. Mr. E. W. returned to Boston. 

29. Went to Leominster with Mrs. T., Eliza, Miss Weld, 
Isa and his Wife to visit Mrs. Legate. 

30. Returned from Leominster. 



1 In t ho Boston Directories of 1805-1807, Mr. Thomas's residence is given as 52 
Newbury street, which was that part, of the present Washington street between 
West and Essex streets. In the copy for 180G, in the possession of the American 
Antiquarian Society, is the following note beneath his name in his own hand- 
writing: — " Isaiah Thomas kept a house in Boston and another in Worcester 
for a number of years.'' 



54 American Antiquarian Society. 

October, 1807. 
2. Gave note to Miss Weld for 100 D. 

6. Went to Boston in a chaise with Miss H. Weld and 
lodged with Mr. Weld. 

7. Was re-elected a Director of Worcester Bank. Paid 
100 dollars towards Pew in Christ Church in Boston. Rec a . 
95 dols. on Nahum Mower's note. Bought a set of Chi- 
rurgical Instruments for D 1 . Simmons for which I gave 
100 dols. payable in 6" months to Dr. Bartlett of Boston. 

8. Returned from Boston in a chaise alone. Saw the 
Comet. 

11. Mr. Holcomb preached. 1 

12. At i past 10 "Clock sat out with Eliza for New- 
hampshire, and St. Albans in Vermont, and the Borders 
of Canada, in Coachee with Levi. Lodged at Templeton 
28 miles from Worcester. 

13. Sat off from Templeton at 6 "Clock in the morning. 
Breakfasted at Morse's in Winchendon. Continued jour- 
ney to near Keene in Newhampshire where I met my 
daughter Simmons, her husband and Children, in an un- 
covered Waggon from St. Albans, going to Worcester to 
see me. I returned with them. Lodged at Templeton 
again. 

14. Dined in Holden, and all arrived at Worcester. 

17. Dr. Simmons & wile went to Brookfield. 

18. Smart Showers. Heavy Thunder with Lightning. 
M 1 '. Whitney preached. Very dark at 3 & 4 o'Clock. 

21. Military Officers of the 7 th Division met at Worces- 
ter. Dr. S. & wife returned. 

22. Mrs. Hermione Andrews, wife of Mr. E. T. A. 
died this morning. 



1 Rev. Keuben Holcomb. minister of the church in Sterling from 1779 to 1814. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 55 

24. Went to Boston with Dr. Simmons & H. Frazier 
in Coachee. 

25. Mrs. H. Andrews buried. Attended the Funeral. 

26. Went to theatre with D 1 . Simmons. 

27. Returned to Worcester with my daughter-in-Law 

and D r . Simmons. 

29. Dr. Simmons & wife went to Shrewsbury. 

November, 1807. 

1. M r . Sam 1 . Hall, 1 Printer, died. 

2. Dr. Simmons, wife and family sat off on their 
return home. 

8. Rev. M 1 '. Nash preached and dined with us. 

10. Walked to the Pond Bridge. Went to Boylston 
to visit Parson Nash with Mrs. T. & Mr. & Mrs. Ban- 
croft. 

15. Mr. Allen preached. 

17. Adjournment of S. J. C. Went to Boston in a 
Chaise with Dr. Fiske, to a meeting of Turnpike Directors. 

18. Attended Directors. Lodged with Mr. Andrews. 

19. Went with a Committee to Dr. Dix. 2 



'Samuel Hall was born in Medford, Mass., and served his apprenticeship with 
his uncle. Daniel Fowle of Portsmouth, N. H. From 17G1 to 1768 he was in part- 
nership, in Newport, R. I., with Anne, widow of James Franklin, whose daughter 
he married. He then established the first printing press in Salem, Mass., and 
began the publication of the Essex Gazette, and in three or four years admitted 
his brother Ebenezer as a partner. In 1775, to accommodate the state conven- 
tion and the army, they set up their press in Stoughton Hall in Cambridge, and 
after the evacuation of Boston, Samuel (his brother having died in the meantime), 
removed to that place. He was again in Salem from 1781 to 1785, when he re- 
turned to Boston, where he opened a printing office and a book and stationery store 
in Cornhill. 

- Elijah Dix, the eldest son of James and Sarah Bond Dix of Watertown, had 
few advantages as a boy, and wishing to obtain a better education than was pos- 



56 American Antiquarian Society. 

20. Returned to Worcester with Dr. Fiske. 

21. Gave Eliza velvet pelise. 

24. Note B. renewed 5000 dols. 

25. Sold Whittemore the house he lives in. 1 



sible at home, went to live with Ilev. Andrew Hutchinson of Grafton, doing suffi- 
cient work to pay for his board and instruction. In April, 1765, at the age of 
seventeen, he was apprenticed to Dr. John Green, "to learn the art of physick and 
chirurgery," and after completing these studies, he fitted himself for a druggist 
with Dr. William Greenleaf of Boston. He practiced in Worcester from 1770 to 
1795, living in the house at the southerly end of Court Hill, which he built before 
the Revolution, and his office and drug store were in a two-story building near 
by. He had a good reputation as a physician, and in addition to his practice, 
which was large, he engaged in various business enterprises, by which he acquired 
quite a large fortune, which he invested in Maine lands, and was the founder and 
original proprietor of the town of Dixmont. 

In 1795 he removed to Boston, and in the Columbian Centinel of 6 June, Elijah 
Dix and John Haskins, Jr. give notice that they have commenced business under 
the firm of Dix and Haskins, and offer for sale at their store on State street not 
only drugs and medicines, but groceries and general merchandise. They were 
also large importers and commission merchants. Dr. Dix, however, retained an 
interest in his Worcester store and was in partnership with his former apprentice 
and successor, Jeremiah Robinson, until 1807. He was later a member of the 
linn of Dix and Brinley, "on the south side of Faneuil Hall Market," which, in 
addition to its drug business, established extensive chemical works at Smith Boston, 
with furnaces for refining sulphur and a laboratory for clarifying camphor. 

Dr. Dix was identified with many of the public improvements of Worcester. 
He was one of the promoters of the Boston and Worcester Turnpike; was the origi- 
nator of the stock company which built the "Centre school house," the first grammar 
school in town; and was the first to plant elm trees on Main street, thereby setting 
an example to others which resulted in the row of trees which, until within a few 
years, lined both its sides. He was also greatly interested in horticulture, and 
the famous Dix pear was the product of his garden. 

lie died suddenly in 1809, while on one of his expeditions to his Maine property, 
and it was more than suspected that he was foully dealt with. 

Dr. Dix married, 1 October, 1771, Dorothy Lynde, daughter of Joseph Lynde. 
Dorothea Lynde Dix, known as the "American Florence Nightingale," was his 
granddaughter. 

| Born, Watertown, 13 August, 1747. Died, Dixmont, Me., 28 May, 1809.] 

1 This entry is interesting from the fact that the land on which this house stood 
is now occupied by Antiquarian Hall. It was undoubtedly a part of the forty- 
acre lot granted by the Proprietors 20 May, 1714, "for the Minister at Worcester," 
and described as "lying both sides mill brook on ye south side ('apt Wing's home- 
stead now in ye possession of Mrs. Sarah Totnlin: bounded west by land in pos- 
Bession of Collr Winthrop, south by a lott laid out to Deacon John Haywood, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. i">7 

26. Thanksgiving. Isa & family dined with me. 

27. Dined with D. Waldo, jun 1 . with the other Directors 
of Worcester Bank. 

29. Sat out at \ past 2 "Clock this afternoon in Coachee 
with Eliza and H. Frazier for Boston, to attend Directors 
meeting of Turnpike Corpo". Lodged at Furbush's in 
Westboro'. 

30. Proceeded on to Boston, breakfasted at Wheeler's 
in Framingham, and arrived at Boston at \ past 3 "Clock, 
afternoon and opened house. C. C. P. Worcester. 

December, 1807. 

1. Met Turnpike Directors. Dined at Vila's. 

2. Turnpike Directors met again. Dined at do. 

3. Turnpike Directors met again. Election of officers. 
— dined at Vila's. 

4. Turnpike Directors again met. Dined at Vila's. 
Theatre — Romeo tV r Juliet, and the Weathercock. Romeo — 
Mr. Fennel — Juliet, Mrs. Warren — Well performed. 

5. Com oe . of Turnpike Directors met to settle with 



East by common land, a highway running thro' part of this land." In some way, 
mil shown upon the records, this Land came into the possession of William Jennison, 
and after his death in 1744, one-quarter of it was conveyed by his daughter Abi- 
gail Baldwin and her husband William to Luke Brown, the first of the name in 
Worcester, who was Jennison's son-in-law and the keeper of the "Hancock Anns.'' 
In 1781 Mr. Thomas bought of the estate of t ho second Luke Brown a part of this 
t racf ; and in 1797 another port inn of about nine acres, to t he north and in the rear of 
the Thomas lot, was sold by the third Luke Brown to Samuel and Stephen Salisbury. 

The lot sold by Mr. Thomas to Clark Whittemore at this time was about one 
hundred feet deep, about thirty-two feet in front and about thirty-six in the rear, 
and was occupied by him until 1S33, when he sold it to Stephen Salisbury, who 
conveyed it to this Society 10 March, 1851. 

Clark Whittemore came to Worcester in the early part of the century and opened 
a book bindery in his house, which he carried on for many years. 

For a full history of the titles to this property see a paper by our associate, 
Charles A. Chase, on the "Land Titles of the American Antiquarian Society," in 
its Proceedings, Vol. 14, N. S.. page 193. 



58 American Antiquarian Society. 

late Treasurer. Dined at Vila's. D r . Parsons paid 1 
Quarter's Rent, d 5. 

6. Went to Church all day. 

7. Turnpike Directors meet again at Vila's. 

8. Mr. E. T. Andrews & Miss H. AVeld dined. 

9. Rec' 1 . a Letter from Miss Beach of Philadelphia— 
written by desire of my sister to inform me of her ill health. 
Bought 9^ cwt. of hay at 7/. 

10. Dined with Mr. Andrews. 

11. Dined with Gen. Elliot. Rec a . 1 Quarter's Rent of 
M 1 ". Jackson, 162^ dols. Rec a . 1 do. of Mr. Tappan, 150 
dols. Went to Theatre with Eliza. Maid of the Oaks, 
Cinderella, Raising the Wind. 

13. Went to Church. 

14. Attended Grand Lodge. 

15. Attended G[rand] Chapter. 

16. Very unwell. Agreed to sell my large mansion 
house in Boston to Mr. E. T. Andrews for D 16,000. N. B. 
The house wants large repairs. 

17. Went to Worcester with Eliza, Miss R. Armstrong 
and Levi in Coachee. Got there at S "Clock in the Even- 
ing. H. Frazier went in the stage. Bad travelling. 

19. Eat some raccoon. 

20. Went to church all day. 

21. Heard my sister was better. 

22. Attended Bank. 

23. Attended Library Directors. 1 Very ill in the night. 



» All thai can be found of the origin of this library, which was the first known 
to be established in Worcester, is the announcement in the Massachusetts Spy of 
23 May, 1793, that " The Annual Meeting of the Worchstkh Associate Circu- 
lating) Library Company will be held at Capt IIkywood's Tavern, on Tuesday 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 59 

24. Sent for Dr. Babbit 1 & Dr. Green. Went to Long 
Pond with Miss R. Armstrong, &c. 

25. Spent the evening with Col. Clap, &c, at Farrar's. 

26. Dr. Babbit came, consulted with him and Dr. Green. 
Paid Babbit 10 dollars. Act of embargo passed the 21 st 
inst. 

27. Kept house yesterday & today. 

28. Eliza went to a Ball. 

31. Been Confined with my Complaint the past week. 

1S0S. 
[There are no entries in the almanac of this year.] 

January, 1809. 

1. Went to Church twice. Frazier taken ill. 

2. Mrs. T. had a party. 

3. Went to the bank. 
8. Did not go out. 

10. Went to the bank. 



the fourth day of June next, at five o'clock P. M. at which time the Books will be 
ready for the subscribers." 

The first librarian was Thomas Payson, the master of the "Classical School" 
— which was founded here in 1787 — and afterwards the master of the Franklin 
Latin Grammar School in Boston. It was later known as the "Worcester Social 
Library" and was apparently in existence about forty years, for the Massachusetts 
Spy of 27 February, 1833, has the following notice:— 

" Will be sold at the Worcester Auction Room, March 6th, a valuable assortment 
of Books, consisting of about 500 volumes, comprising many valuable Works of 
History, Biography, Travels, etc. — being the entire collection of the WORCESTER 
SOCIAL LIBRARY." 

1 Dr. Thomas Babbitt was in curly life a surgeon in the navy, and afterwards 
removed to Brookfield, where he had an extensive practice. He was the second 
president of the Worcester District Medical Society, serving from 1807 until his 
death. 7 February, 1813. 



60 American Antiquarian Society. 

11. Got wood from the pasture, 9 Loads. 

12. Dance. Sat up till half past one °Clock. 
14. Rode a few miles. 

18. Went to the Bank. 

21. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit of 3 or 4 days. 1 

22. Went to Chh. once. 

23. Eliza went to Boston with Isaiah. 

24. Went to Boylston. 

27. Mrs. Seaver again visited us. 

28. Rode out. 

29. Went twice to Church. 
31. Went to Bank. 

February, 1809. 

5. Mrs. Seaver went home. 

7. Mrs. Seaver visited us. 

11. Walked up town. Mr. Sheldon 2 from Providence. 



1 Mary, daughter of John ami Dorothy Paine Chandler, was married, 29 October, 
1785, to William Sever, of Kingston, Mass. Mr. Sever was graduated from Har- 
vard in 1778, studied law with Levi Lincoln, Sen., and after his admission to the 
bar in 1781, practiced for two years in Kingston. In 17S5 he removed to Worces- 
ter and lived on a farm which his father had purchased for him, where the Lincoln 
House now stands. He died in Worcester, in 1798, at the age of thirty-six. 

[Born, Worcester, 21 December, 1759. Died, Worcester, 1") January, 1821.] 

2 William Sheldon, an Englishman, came to this country in 1795 and resided 
for a time in Norwich. Conn. While there a serious pecuniary loss to which he 
exposed himself, on account of his ignorance of the operation of the usury law of 
the state, led him to publish, in 1798, a pamphlet on the subject entitled, "Cursory 
remarks on the laws concerning Usury," containing a brief history of their origin, 
thoughts on their connection with religion, their moral tendency and justice, etc. 
Hi- then lived in North Providence, It. I., where he was the principal writer for 
Carter's Providence Gazelle and the author of several of the essays of the "Moralist " 
and the ' ' Adelphiad," published in that paper. From March, 1809, to October, 
1810, he was the editor of the Massachusetts Spy, and during that time assisted 
Mr. Thomas in preparing the "History of Printing." In 1809 he published in 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. (il 

12. Did not go out. 

13. Anson Whipple went to Boston. Mrs. Seaver went 
home. 

14. Went to the Bank. 

15. Eliza Thomas went from Boston to Providence. 

16. Anson return M from Boston. 

19. None of the family went to Church. M r . Benj a . 
Weld, 1 father to my son's wife, seized with an apoplexy 
in Church, and died immediately. 

21. My son & his wife went to Boston with Levi to 
attend the funeral. 

23. Heard of Aunt Andrews' 2 death. Mr. Weld buried. 
Mrs. Andrews did not die. 

24. Mrs. Thomas went to Boston with Eliza Ewers in 
Stage. 

25. My son & his wife returned from Boston. 

26. Went to Church twice. My brother came from 
Lancaster. 

27. Mr. Andrews' sons came up from Boston. My 
brother came from Lancaster. 

28. Went to the bank. Mr. Andrews' sons arrived here 
on their way to Schenectady. 



Worcester a "History of the Heathen Gods, and Heroes of Antiquity," to which 
he added a new translation of the "Battle of the Gods and Giants." He was labo- 
rious and indefatigable as a writer, but possessed more learning than taste, and 
his political prejudices were too strong to be overcome or to make him of great 
use to his party. He was fond of poetry and wrote with great ease, but little ele- 
gance. In 1812 he went to Jamaica, where he was for some time a private instructor, 
and affprwards returned to England. 
[Born, England, 17 November, 1762. Died, London, England, 28 June, 1822.] 

1 Edward Weld of Boston, formerly of Marblehead. 

2 Mrs. Andrews was the mother of Ebenezer T. Andrews. 



(12 American Antiquarian Society. 

March, 1S09. 

2. Mrs. Thomas came up from Boston. 

3. My brother returned to Lancaster. 

4. Mrs. Seaver returned. 

5. Went once to Church. 

7. Went to bank. Mrs. Mary Andrews died. 

10. Went to Boston in the Stage and took Charles 
with me, attend Mrs. Andrews' funeral. 

12. Went twice to Church. 

13. Attended Grand Lodge. 

14. Went to Worcester in the Stage in little more than 
7 hours. 

15. Mr. Sheldon arrived from Providence. Children's 
Ball. 

17. Had 10 Gentlemen to dine with me. Mrs. Seaver 
dined with us. 

18. Bad cold— did not go out. 

21. Cunningham from Boston. 

22. Levi Harry, who has lived with me more than 
thirteen years, ran off— he had gotten greatly in debt. 

23. This after" Step" Davis came to work, &c. 

April, 1S09. 
3. Great Struggle for Governor. 1 



1 The passage of the Embargo Act, 22 December, 1807, forbidding clearance of all 
American vessels to foreign ports, and limiting the coasting trade to the United 
States, completely paralyzed the commerce of New England, and suddenly, without 
warning, cut off multitudes of her merchants and sailors from their accustomed 
employments, and reduced them to enforced idleness. Manufacturing had not then 
sprung up, and her interests, outside of agriculture, were exclusively commercial. 
In consequence, a time of great political excitement, followed, and the whole year 1S08 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 63 

4. James Davis came to live with me. 

6. Fast day. 

7. Dine with S. Chandler. 

9. Went to Church. Anson taken very ill by eating 
parched Corn. Had fits for an hour. 2 doctors and 4 or 
5 to hold him. 

10. Went to Boston with my son and Miss Anne Seaver ' 
in the coach drove by James Davis. 

13. Attended Turnpike Directors. My brother Joshua 
Thomas married Mary Armstrong. 

14. Walked over to Charlestown. 

15. Returned to Worcester with my son, his daughter 
Caroline, and Miss R. Armstrong. 

16. Went to meeting once. 



was a turmoil hitherto unprecedented in the political history of the country. But the 
act "more effectually to enforce the embargo" passed 9 January, 1809, to prevenl 
the many evasions of the law which were constantly made, threw New England into 
open rebellion against the administration. Already, before its passage, meetings 
had been held in the commercial towns to protest against it, which Governor Lincoln, 
a strong partisan of Jefferson, had condemned as seditious and uncalled for. When, 
however, it became known that the Force Act had actually become a law, the popu- 
lar fury knew no bounds. Petitions from the various towns demanding its repeal 
poured into the General Court, which had a small Federalist majority, and were 
referred to a joint committee, which presented a long report, a set of resolutions and 
a bill which was promptly vetoed by Governor Lincoln. The resolutions declared 
the Force Act to be unjust, unconstitutional, oppressive, and not legally binding 
upon the people of Massachusetts, but urged them to abstain from actual, violence ; 
recommended a memorial to Congress; announced that Massachusetts would 
"cooperate with any of the other States in all legal and constitutional measures for 
procuring such amendments to the Constitution of the United States as shall be 
indued necessary"; and gave instructions that copies of the resolutions should be 
sent to the several states. 

Early in March also, the General Court, at the end of its session, and just before 
the close of Congress, issued an address to the people so strong and decided, that its 
effects were felt outside of New England; and at the Massachusetts election in April, 
Gore defeated Lincoln by a majority of nearly 3,000 in 93,000 votes, and the Feder- 
alists were strengthened in both branches of the General Conn. 

1 Anne Warren, daughter of William ami Mary Chandler Sever. She was married, 
19 April, 1821, to Rev. John Brazer, of Salem. 



64 American Antiquarian Society. 

IS. Moses Thomas 1 & Miss Bancroft visit Supreme 
Court — Judge Sedgwick. 

19. Mr. Mycall. My son's wife went to Boston in the 
Stage. 

21. Boylston's cause decided against him. 2 

23. Judge Sedgwick and Lady dined with me. Went 
to Church twice. My son went te Boston. 

24. Began to write my Will anew, and Mr. Bangs to 
copy. 

25. Went to bank. 

26. My son and his wife returned from Boston. 

29. P]clipse of the moon. 

30. Mrs. Thomas and Miss R. Armstrong went to Lan- 
caster with James. 

May, 1S09. 

1. Mrs. T. & Miss A. returned from Lancaster. 

2. Went to Bank. Finished Will. 

3. Went to Boston with Miss Rebecca Armstrong, 
in Coachee— with James Davis at 3 °Clock this Afternoon. 
Lodged at Wheeler's in Framingham. Mr. Step". Salis- 



1 Moses Thomas, the son of Joshua ami Mary Twing Thomas, learned a trade 
in West Cambridge ami afterwards purchased a farm in Sterling. lie was for many 
years a deputy sheriff, and was a selectman and a magistrate, lie was first married 
to Becca, daughter of Nathaniel Cummings of Dunstable, and 1 .January, 1798, 
to Rebecca, daughter of Timothy Whiting of Lancaster. 

[Born. West Cambridge, 2 October, 1767. Died, Sterling, 12 September, 1856.] 

2 This was an action brought against Ward Nicholas Boylston, of Princeton, 
as administrator of (lie estate of Thomas Boylston, formerly of Boston, but lat- 
terly of London. 

— See 5 Mass. Rep., 411. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. G5 

bury 1 and wife, in his Coachee— M r . D. Waldo 2 and sister 
in their Coachee set out for Boston at the same time — all 
lodged at the same place, and proceeded together the 
next morning for Boston. 

4. Went to Jamaica Plains with Miss Armstrong- 
arrived in Boston at one "Clock. Attend Turnpike Direc- 
tors Meeting. 

5. Frazier sick. 

6. Sat off for Worcester with Miss Rebecca Ewers & 
Miss Mary Bancroft. 3 Arrived at Worcester 6 "Clock. 
I. Thomas, jun r went again to Boston — met him on the 
road. 

1 Stephen Salisbury, the son of Nicholas and Martha Saunders Salisbury, of 
Boston, upon coming of age in 1767, entered into partnership with his elder brother, 
under the firm name of Samuel and Stephen Salisbury, and came to Worcester 
to establish a branch of the business. Their first store was in a low, one-story 
building north of Lincoln square, but after they built the Salisbury mansion, in 
1770, it was removed to the front room at the right of its entrance, while their 
heavy merchandise was stored in a building near by. The rest of the house was 
occupied by Stephen Salisbury and his mother. 

Worcester, then a town of hardly a thousand inhabitants, proved a good situa- 
tion for the centre of a country trade. There was no competition and, as Mr. 
Salisbury had the recommendation of being an importer, small traders over a large 
territory soon found that they could not only buy their goods almost as cheaply 
in Worcester as in Boston, but by doing so could save the expense of transporta- 
tion. Mr. Salisbury gained the confidence of his customers by his promptness, 
fair dealing and cordial manners, and soon built up a large and profitable business. 
His files of letters show relations of friendship and affection which would not now 
be expected from customers, while those from his brother express surprise and 
gratification at the aid the country store furnished in keeping up the credit of the 
firm, by enabling it to make prompt foreign remittances. The partnership con- 
tinued with entire harmony until the death of Samuel Salisbury in 1818. Mr. 
Salisbury was devoted to the business, and held no public office, though his name 
appears on patriotic committees at the time of the Revolution. 

He married. 31 January, 1797, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth 
Tuckerman of Boston. 

[Born, Boston, 25 September, 1740. Died, Worcester, 11 May, 1829.] 

2 Mr. Waldo has been previously mentioned as Daniel Waldo, Jr., his father 
having died 8 December, 1808. 

3 Mary, daughter of Aaron and Lucretia Chandler Bancroft. • 

[Born, Worcester, 1 June, 1793. Died, Worcester, 11 October, 1S44.] 

5 



66 American Antiquarian Society. 

7. Went to Church twice. 

8. Frazier remains unwell. Went to the Bank. 

9. Took one pill which continued to operate briskly 
till the 14 th . 

13. My son returned with his sister-in-law Mrs. Andrews. 
Rec d . Letters from Mary Anne & Eliza. 

14. Frazier yet unwell. 

15. Agreed with Elijah Burbank to make for [me] 100 
Reams— Medium printing to Weigh 22 lb. per ream, of the 
same quality and size as the sample shown him of paper on 
which M r . Harris' Sermon, preached at Plymouth on the 
Anniversary of our forefathers is printed on. 1 

16. Went to Bank. 

17. Frazier rode out. 

21. Unwell, did not go to Church. 

22. Very unwell with a rhumatism in my right breast 
& Shoulder. In much distress. Had IX Paine. 

23. Still unwell, but better. 



1 In January, 1785, according to Mr. Ellery B. Crane's pamphlet on the "Early 
Paper Mills in Massachusetts," Mr. Thomas bought of Ephraim McFarland, for ninety 
pounds, the southerly half of a dam and water privilege at what is now Quinsiga- 
mond Village. In November, 1787, he sold this property to Dr. Elijah Dix for 
eighty-five pounds, from whom he again bought it in January, 1793, for one hun- 
dred pounds and sometime during that year began the erection of a paper mill. 
Rev. Peter Whitney, in his "History of Worcester County," published in 1793, 
says in his notice of Mr. Thomas that "he is now engaged in building in Worcester, 
as large a Paper Mill as is in this state." This was the second in the county, the 
first having been built in Sutton by Abijah Burbank in 1776. It was evi- 
dently finished in the following winter, for in February, 1794, he advertised for 
three or four journeymen papermakers and for clean linen and cotton and linen rags. 
The mill was supplied with two vats of about 110 pounds capacity, which were usu- 
ally operated fifteen hours a day, and furnished employment for ten men and eleven 
girls. From twelve to fourteen hundred pounds of hand-made paper were manu- 
factured there weekly. In February, 1798, Mr. Thomas sold the mill, together 
with land, house, saw and grist mill, to Caleb and Elijah Burbank, who conducted 
it for some years in connection with their mill in Sutton. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. (!7 

24. My brother and his wife made us a visit. 

26. My brother & wife returned home. 

27. Eliza taken unwell in Boston. 

29. Heard about noon that Eliza was unwell in Boston. 

30. At 5 °Clock this morn g sat off in a Chaise for Boston 
with Miss Rebecca Ewers. Arrived in town at 2 "Clock. 
Found Eliza very unwell with a slow fever — at Mr. Keith's. 

31. Election. 

June, 1809. 

1. Attended Turnpike Directors' Meeting. 

2. Searched old Records in the Sec y 's Office. 

3. Went to search old Records in Sec y Office. Agreed 
to sell my Land at Lebanon for 500 dols. 

4. Went to Church twice. Dined with Eben r . T. 
Andrews. Went to see Craigie Bridge now building. 1 
Eliza worse today. Eliza Ewers watched with her. 

5. Levi agreed to return and live with me. Artillery 
Election. Rain all the afternoon. This is the third Ar- 
tillery Election when it has rained and the Governor did 
not attend on the common to receive and deliver the En- 
signs of Office to that Company. 2 Treated Ladies at Mrs. 
Ewers'. 



1 Craigie's or the Canal Bridge as it was sometimes called, from the Middlesex 
Canal, extended from what was then known as Barton's Point to Lechmere's Point, 
in Cambridge. 

2 The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the oldest militia organization 
in America, was formed in 1637, and the old ceremonies of "Artillery Election," 
which were always held on the first Monday in June, when the old officers retire 
and the new are commissioned by the Governor, are still observed. The company, 
which was assembled by fife and drum, marched through the principal streets of Bos- 
ton, and escorted the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, with the General 
Court and invited guests to the First Church, where the election sermon was preached. 
At the close of the service the annual dinner was held, usually in Paneuil Hall, 
at which the captain presided at the head of the centre table, having on his right 



68 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. Have fire made every evening. As yet have not 
done without them. Remarkable cold weather all this 
spring. 

7. Attended with the Com ee . for revising the Consti- 
tution & Regulations of the Grand Chapter. Eliza better. 

8. Spent this day examining old Records in Sec y 's 
Office. Eliza left her chamber for the first time since 



the Governor, and on his left the President of Harvard University, who, if he 
was a clergyman, returned thanks. At about four o'clock the guests retired, and 
the company marched to their allotted square at the northwest corner of the Com- 
mon, where the public ceremonies -of the day were commenced by calling the roll 
of active and honorary members, according to seniority. The election of officers 
followed, the votes being counted on a drum-head, and when the result was de- 
clared the drummer beat the roll three times for the captain, twice for the lieutenant 
and once for the ensign, the Governor and Council were notified of the election 
and their approbation was requested. The guests were then escorted from the State 
House, and as the Governor entered the square a salute of thirteen guns was fired 
and he was led to the chair of state in the centre of the western side, supported 
by the civil department on his right and the military on his left. After the usual 
salutes and evolutions the old commander resigned his insignia of office and his 
successor assumed the command. 

In 1809 the day was celebrated with all its ancient forms. The Boston Repertory 
in describing the ceremonies says: — 

"As it is customary for the Governour of the Commonwealth to bear a part 
in the ceremonies of the day, a large number of the young federal gentlemen of 
Boston and the vicinity had prepared to avail themselves of this opportunity of 
exhibiting their respect for his Excellency CHRISTOPHER GORE, by attending 
him into town. Arrangements for the same tribute of respect were likewise made 
by a number of citizens of the County of Middlesex. 

"Accordingly, in conformity to the notice given in the papers, a Cavalcade formed 
on the Common at half past 7 o'clock in the morning, consisting of above 300 on 
horse-back, and about forty carriages. They proceeded towards Walt ham, and 
met His Excellency in the upper pari of Cambridge, attended by about the same 
number from Middlesex, who had assembled at his seat. The whole cavalcade, 
consisting of SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY horse, and EIGHTY-SEVEN CAR- 
RIAGES attended his Excellency into Boston, through Cambridge and Chariest own, 
where he was saluted from the heights by the Charlestown Artillery. When the 
escort reached the Suffolk line on Charlestown bridge, a salute was fired by a com- 
pany of Artillery on Copps Hill, and Christ Church Hells rang Washington's March. 

"The streets were crowded with spectators; on passing the Old State House, 
tlir> citizens gave a cheer of welcome; — on the Governour's arrival at his house 
adjacent to the common, he was received with three cheers." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 69 

her illness, and I carried her in a carriage as far as Rox- 
bury. For 6 days past I have been examining old Records 
in the Secretary's Office to find something respecting Day 
& Green first printers. 1 Settled annual Ace*, with the 
Com y . at Boston. 

9. Went to Cambridge to examine ancient records to 
find something respecting Day, Green & Johnson first 
printers. Visited the President, 2 Parson Holmes, 3 M r . Wm. 
Winthrop, &c. Went in a hack, took two Miss Ewers 
and Dr. Gammage with me. Farrar pel Rent. 

10. Rode out with Eliza and left her at Mr. Wm. An- 
drews. E. T. Andrews, wife, Miss Weld, &c, sat off 
at 2 °Clock for Albany & Newyork. Spent the afternoon 



1 In 1638 Rev. Joseph Glover, a wealthy dissenting clergyman in England, who 
was actively interested in the settlement of Massachusetts, and who wished to 
introduce printing into the colonies, engaged Stephen Daye, a London printer to 
come to Cambridge; and in January, 1639, Daye began printing, in President Dun- 
ster's house, upon the first press set up in the North American Colonies. The 
press remained in Cambridge for about sixty years, always controlled by the govern- 
ment and under the direction of the college authorities, and for thirty years print- 
ing was carried on exclusively there. 

In 1648 or 1649 Daye was succeeded by Samuel Green, whose son Bartholomew, 
in 1704, began the publication of The Boston Neirs-Lelter, the first newspaper printed 
in New England. In 1656 a second press, also under the care of Green, was es- 
tablished in Cambridge by the corporation in England for propagating the gospel 
among the Indians in New England. The books of this corporation had formerly 
been printed in London, but after the Indian students in Cambridge had been 
taught to read, and Eliot and Pierson had translated the primers and catechisms 
into the Indian language, it became necessary that these works should be printed 
under the inspection of the translators. The Bible printed here in 1663 by Green 
and Marmaduke Johnson was of sufficient importance to attract great attention 
in England, and the press of Harvard College was for a time as celebrated as those 
of Oxford and Cambridge. 

Green continued printing for many years, and died in Cambridge, 1 January, 
1702, at the age of eighty-seven. Marmaduke Johnson was sent to America by 
the same corporation in 1660 to assist in printing the Indian Bible. He was asso- 
ciated with Green for a few years, and also printed some books on his own account. 
He died in 1665. 

2 Rev. Samuel Webber. 

3 Rev. Abiel Holmes, pastor of the First Church in Cambridge, 1792-1832. He 
was the father of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. 



70 American Antiquarian Society. 

in Hist. Library. Forenoon examining Records in Secy 8 . 
Office. 

11. Went twice to Church. 

12. Became a Member of the Charitable Fire Soc y . 
Went to Cambridge to examine old Records. Returned 
a 6 "Clock. Attended Grand Lodge. James came from 
Worcester with the Coach. 

13. Attended Humane Society. 1 Address by Mr. Mac- 
Kean at the King's Chapel. Attended Grand Chapter. 
Eliza went to Mr. Thayer's; tarried all night. Dined 
with W. Andrews. 

15. Sat off for Worcester, with Eliza and Miss Calef. 
Rain all the afternoon; tarried at Wheeler's at Framing- 
ham, we lodged there. 

1G. Proceeded to Worcester. 

IS. Went once to Church. Levi came to live with me 
again. 

19. M r Carey from Philadelphia. 

20. Went to Bank. 

21. Rode out. Dr. Paine's Millhouse burnt. 

23. Went to Boston, with a new horse in the carriage — 
sat off at 10 °Clock— arrived at 7 "Clock. 

24. Festival of St. John. Dined at the Exchange 
Coffee house. Procession of St. John's Lodge. Address 
at the Chapel. 

25. Rode from Boston to Lancaster. Slept at my 
brother's. 



'"The Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" was incor- 
porate! L':; February, 1791, "for t he recovery of persons who meet with such acci 
dents as produce in them the appearance of death, and for promoting the cause 
of humanity, by pursuing such means from time to time as shall have for their 
object the preservation of human life, and the alleviation of its miseries." Exer- 
ci e imilar t.. those of the Massachusetts Charitable Society were held each year. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 71 

26. Went to Westminster. 4 Lodges met and kept the 
Festival of St. John. Very handsome procession, joined 
by 74 Couple of Ladies. Band of Music, Sermon, Ad- 
dress, &c. 

27. Went home this morning from Westminster. Ball 
at Westminster. Dined in a booth. 

29. My daughter Simmons arrived from St. Albans, 
with her infant daughter on a visit. 

30. Family dined with my son. 

July, 1809. 

2. Went to Church twice. 

3. Fire Society met. 1 



1 Neither its records nor the newspapers of the day give us any information as 
to the reasons for the foundation of this society, but it is supposed to have been 
caused by the burning of the weaver's shop of Cornelius and Peter Stowell, at what 
is now the corner of Park and Washington streets, 4 January, 1793; for on 23 
January, following, twenty-two men met at "The United States Arms Tavern " 
(Exchange Hotel), and organized the Worcester Fire Society. The membership was 
limited to thirty, and meetings were held on the first Monday of each quarter. 

One of the articles of the constitution required that "at notice of Fire, if within 
one mile of a Bank Building, every Member shall repair to the place with his Buckets, 
and afterwards shall repair with his Bags, Bed-Key, and Screw-Driver to the dwel- 
ling-house, ware-house, or shop of the Member most in danger, and use his best 
endeavors, by the direction of the owner, if present, to remove and secure all his 
goods, and return them as soon as convenient, with safety, under penalty of three 
dollars." The society took particular care of public buildings, and the property 
of "the Widow and Family of any deceased Member, when more in danger than 
the property of any of the members of said Society." 

Another article provided that "each Member shall constantly keep together in 
some conspicuous place in his dwelling-house, two leather Buckets, each containing 
at least eight quarts; two Bags, each Bag one yard and an half long, and one yard 
and an half round, with strings at the mouths, that they may be drawn together 
with the greatest despatch — an iron Bed-Key with a Screw-Driver at one end, 
and a common Screw-Driver. The Buckets and Bags to be marked and numbered 
with the first letter of the owner's Christian name and his surname at length, under 
penalty for being unprovided, viz., each Bag, Bucket, or Bed-Key, fifty cents; and 
for each and every article separate from the others, or not in a conspicuous place, 
except the Screw-Driver fifty cents; and for the Screw-Driver twenty-five cents; 



72 American Antiquarian Society. 

4. Dined at homo. 

7. Heard of the death of my partner at Walpole, 
Alex 1- . Thomas at Saratoga Springs on Monday last. 

8. Sat off for Walpole, with my Son, his wife, my 
daughter Simmons, Anson Whipple for Walpole at 2 °Clock 
p. m. All lodged at Kendall's, Leominster. 

9. Sat off at 5 °Clock this morning. Breakfasted at 
Winchendon. Arrived at Keene 4 "Clock. Lodged at 
Keene. 

10. Breakfasted at Keene. Arrived at Walpole 11 
°Clock a. m. T. K. Thomas arrived from Boston. 

11. My Son, his Wife and my daughter set off in the 
Stage from Walpole for -St. Albans. Began to take ace*, 
of Walpole Stock. 

13. Taking Stock at Walpole. 

15. Walked over to Vermont. 

16. Wont to meeting at Walpole. Dined with Gen 1 
Allen. 

18. Agreed with M r . Allen of Lebanon, N. H., to sell 
him my land in that town, 450 acres for $502.50. 

21. Still engaged in taking account of Stock at Wal- 
pole, N. H. My son and his wife arrived at Walpole from 
St. Albans. 



and for putting either of the Bags or Buckets to any other use than that designated 
by this Institution, one dollar for each." 

The clerk, under penalty of one dollar, was required to notify one of the members 
two days before each meeting to examine with him the apparatus of each member, 
and if he refused, or did not provide "some one of his brethren to walk for him," 
In- paid a fine of fifty rents. There were also fines for absence from the meetings 
and from the roll-call. 

Until the formation of the Mutual Fire Society, in 1822, the society was the 
only organized protection against fire in the town. Since the establishment of 
the Worcester Fire Department in 1835, it has continued as a social organization, 
and still holds its quarterly meetings. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 73 

22. My son & his wife sat off for Worcester. 

23. Went to church twice at Walpole. 

24. Nearly closed taking and dividing Stock at Walpole. 

25. Left Walpole for Worcester after dinner. Lodged 
at Keene. 

26. Came from Keene to Worcester in the Coach. Got 
home at 10 in the Evening. 

28. Dismissed James Davis. 

29. My son went to Boston. 

30. Went once to Church. 

31. Begin to repair Stables. 

August, 1809. 

1. Tim y . Whiting and wife on a Visit. Went to Bank. 

2. Minot Thayer— visit, 

3. My Son returned from Boston. ♦Sent Mary Ball 
78 dollars. 

5. Rec d 3245 Dollars, part payment for the house I 
sold in Boston. 

6. Went to Church once. 

9. Turnpike Directors attended the Committee of the 
General Court to examine the road, one day. Three of 
our Servants unwell and lame. 

10. My Son went to Providence. 

12. My Son returned from Providence. 

17, 18, 19. Kitchen Fire very agreeable every evening. 

20. Went to Church twice. 

21. Mrs. Thomas & Miss Calef went to Lancaster. 

22. Attended at Bank. 



74 American Antiquarian Society. 

24. Turnpike Directors, one day, at Worcester. 

29. Rode out with Mrs. T. My son's wife went to 
Boston. 

30. Rode out with Miss Calef. 

31. Charles went to see his father. 



September, 1S09. 

3. Went once to Church. 

4. Charles returned. 

6. Went to Boston. Called at M r John Andrews', 
Jamaica Plains. 

7. Coates the broker failed. I lost by him 5000 dols. 
Attended Turnpike Directors' meeting. Charge 5, 6 & 7th. 

8. 9. Employed both days in endeavoring to get securi- 
ty, but could not. 

10. Hastings, Etheridge & Bliss ! affairs engaged me all 
Sunday. 12,000 dollars on their paper. They failed for 
80,000 dollars. My Son went to Boston. 

12. Employed all day on Hastings, Etheridge & Bliss's 
concerns. 

14. Returned to Worcester with my granddaughter 
Augusta. Brought up with me 3000 dollars (in Gold), 
from Boston. Engaged 1000 dollars of Walpole Stock to 
Felch. 

15. Bargain concluded. 

17. My son came from Boston with Hannah Weld. 

IS. Mrs. Thomas & Miss Calef went to Boston in the 
Coach. 

19. Attended Bank. 



1 Hastings, Etheridge & Bliss were booksellers at No. s Stale street, Boston. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 75 

23. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Calef returned from [Boston], 
with Mr. Wm. Andrews, &c. 

26. Supreme Court. Wm. Andrews and his daughter 
and his brother's wife returned to Boston. 

27. Supreme Court. 

28. Mr. Mycall and Moses Thomas spent the week with 
me. 

30. Rode out. 

October, 1809. 

1. Went to Church twice. Hon. Tim y . Bigelow dined 
with me. 

3. Attended at the Bank. 

4. Chosen again a Director of the AVorcester Bank. 
* Missionary Meeting. Dined with the Society. 

8. Went to Church once. 

10. Note at the bank 1600 dols. for my son. 

11. Bargained with Cheever Felch 1 for all my Stock 
in trade at Walpole & printing materials, to take payment 
in 20,000 Watts' Psalms & Hymns at 17 Cents each in 
Sheets; and 5000 Bibles in 8 V0 . with Apocrypha, in sheets, 
at 110 cents each — 3 years' credit on interest. 

15. Went to Church twice. M r . Nash preached. 

16. Went to Bank. 

17. Packed Prichard Books. My brother and his wife 
came from Lancaster. 



'Cheever Felch, after continuing as a bookseller in Walpole for some time, took 
orders in the Episcopal Chinch, and during the War of 1812 was a chaplain in the 
navy. In December, 1815, while stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard, he 
established by command of Commodore Bainbridge, the first naval school for 
olficcrs ever organized in our navy. 



7<! American Antiquarian /Society/. 

18. Mrs. Thomas, Miss Calef, Eliza & Mrs. Thomas of 
Lancaster went to Leominster. Isaiah and Miss Weld went 
to Boston. 

19. Mrs. Thomas, &c. returned from Leominster, &c. 

22. Went to Church twice. 

23. My brother and his wife returned home. 

25. Eliza and Miss Calef went to Leominster in a Chaise. 
Rode out. 

26. Dined with Dan 1 . Waldo. 

27. Rode out. 

29. Went to church twice. 

31. Attended Bank. Eliza and Miss Calef returned 
from Leominster. 

November, 1809. 

Charge Turnpike Corporation three days 1 st , 2 d & 3 d . 
4th half a day with Mr. Zeigler measuring Chandler's Hill. 

1. Went to Boston with Levi. 

4. Returned to Worcester. 

7. Attended at the Bank. 

10. Measured Chandler's hill to ascertain how many 
feet of ground were dug and carried off, to make the road. 

12. Went to Church. 

14. Sat off for Walpole. Got as far as Winchendon 
in the evening. Lodged there. 

15. Arrived at Walpole. 

17. Sold the printing Materials at Walpole to Cheever 
Felch for 700 Dollars— Took his note & sold him 3500 
dollars worth of the Stock. 

18. Left Walpole at 7 °Clock this morning with Anson 
Whipple. Lodged at Whit man's in Westminster. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 77 

19. Rode home. Stopped at Mrs. Legate's. Arrived at 
Worcester at 2 °Clock, afternoon. 

21. Sat off with Eliza, in the Stage on the old road 
for Boston. 

22. Attended the meeting of the board of Directors 
of Worcester turnpike, in Boston, at Stone's. Went to 
the Theatre in the Evening. 

23. Attended proprietors' meeting of the Worcester 
Turnpike at Stone's in Boston. Chosen President pro 
tent. — again chosen Director — All the officers of the last 
year were rechosen. 

24. Violent Snow Storm; by which I was confined all 
day to the house. 

25. Sat out at 5 "Clock in the morning in the Stage 
for Worcester on the Turnpike road. 

26. Went to Church twice. 

29. Agreed to become a partner in a Tannery. 1 

30. Thanksgiving. My Son & his family, and Wm. 
Sheldon and his wife dined with me. 



1 This was the tannery owned in 1789 by Palmer and Daniel Goulding, and later 
by Samuel Johnson, and was located on Mill Brook, east of the Exchange Hotel. 

In April, 1815, Enoch Flagg, as agent for the proprietors, offers it for sale and 
describes it as "one of the most extensive and convenient Establishments in t lie 
State — is in perfect repair, and has all the accommodations and necessary Tools 
for carrying on the business in the most perfect manner. Through the middle 
of the yard runs a large Brook, which is confined within its banks by a very hand- 
some stone-wall. Appertaining to the yard, is a decent, well-finished House, con- 
taining eight rooms — an excellent Garden, and a Well of good water. A few rods 
from the Tanyard is a building in which Bark is ground by water, and in which 
is a Patent Bark-Mill, strong ami well-constructed. The situation is such as will 
command an extensive sale of Leather, and experience justifies the unqualified 
assurance, that a person who is acquainted with the business, who is attentive, 
judicious, and of good habits, and able to stock the yard, would acquire, by con- 
ducting the Establishment, a good estate." 

See entries, December, 1815. 



78 American Antiquarian Society. 

Charge Turnpike Corporation 8 days attendance this 
month, ris. 1 st . 2 d . & 3 d — and 21 st . 22, 23, 24, & 25 th . 



December, 1809. 

3. Went to Church twice. 

4. Completed the Agreement of the Tanning Copy — 
Six proprietors. Each paid an assessment of 300 dollars 
to purchase Stock. A capital of 18,000 or 20,000 dollars 
including a purchase of the yard is intended to be raised 
for this business. 

5. Went to Bank. 

9. Rain all day. Intended to have gone to Boston. 
Rained all night. 

10. Rain continued — Sat out for Boston in the after- 
noon with Miss Calef. Lodged at Wheeler's. 

11. Arrived at Boston at 2 °Clock. Attended Grand 
Lodge. Resigned office of Grand master. 

13. Received Rents. Sat out for Worcester with Miss 
Ewers — Went as far as Newton. Rain. 

14. Arrived at Worcester. Paid Josiah Callender 20 
dolls, towards plates. 

15. Frazier sick. 

16. Mrs. Legate, visit. Loaned Sam 1 . Taylor 850 dols. 

17. Went to Church twice. 

18. My week at the Bank. 

19. Went to Bank. 

21. Mrs. Legate our visitor for a few days. Library 
Directors met at my house. 

22. Tan yard company met, and assessed 600 dols. 
! i lore for Stock. 



f)i<ir>/ of Isaiah Thomas. 7!» 

23. Began to dig a Drain to the house Levi Harry 
lives in. 

24. Did not go to Church. 

25. Went to Boston in the Stage 

27. St. John — Installed my Successor, Hon. Josiah 
Bartlett, Grand Master — Ceremonies performed at Mason's 
Hall. His Excellency Gov 1 '. Gore was present. 

28. Went to AVorcester in the Stage. Bad travelling — 
Was fifteen hours on the journey. Lost not a moment 
of time in unnecessary delay. 

31. Esther unwell, did not go to Church. 



1810. 



Last year I held more offices in Society than I could 
attend to — Grand Master of Freemasons in Massachusetts; 
this office I resigned 27 th . of Dec'": Grand H. P. of the 
royal arch Chapters in Massachusetts, having served in 
this office as long as the Constitution of this order per- 
mitted; I was released from it in September: One of the 
Directors of Worcester Bank, an office I have held since 
the bank was instituted: One of the Directors of Worcester 
Turnpike Corporation: Magistrate of the County of Worces- 
ter; this office not troublesome, as I but seldom officiate 
in it, never but from necessity, and always without fees: 
Member of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, at 
Boston: Member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic 
Association, at Boston: Member of the Massachusetts 
Humane Society: Member of the Massachusetts Agricul- 
tural Society: Member of the Christian Monitor Society: 
Member of Foresters Association: Member and Proprietor 
Boston Athemeum Society: Member and Librarian and a 
Director of the Worcester Library Company: Member of 
Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts. I can- 



80 American Antiquarian Society. 

not boast of being a useful member of many of the above- 
mentioned Institutions. 

January, 1S10. 

1. Visited by all my son's children. 

2. Went to the Bank. 

4. Put History of Printing to Press. 1 



'"The History of Printing in America" was Mr. Thomas's only literary work, 
and after his retirement from business in Worcester in 1S02, he devoted himself 
largely to its preparation. He was peculiarly fitted to compile such a history, 
for from his own investigations and from his personal acquaintance with the lead- 
ing printers of the United States, from whom he had heard their own histories and 
the traditions of their predecessors, his knowledge of the subject was greater than 
that of any one then living. He spared neither time nor expense in gathering 
material, and the collection of newspapers obtained for this purpose, with those 
he already possessed, was the largest in the country. 

The work is dedicated to "The President and other O/jicers and Members of the 
AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY in Pennsylvania, and The President, 
Counsellors, and other members of the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND 
SCIENCES in Massachusetts." 

In the preface he says: — 

"Amidst the darkness which surrounds the discovery of many of the arts, it 
has been ascertained that it is practicable to trace the introduction and progress 
of Printing, in the northern part of America, to the period of the revolution. A 
history of this kind has not, until now, been attempted, although the subject, 
in one point of view, is more interesting to us than to any other nation. We are 
able to convey to posterity a correct account of the manner in which we have grown 
up to be an independent people, and can delineate the progress of the useful and 
polite arts among us with a degree of certainty which cannot be attained by the 
nations of the old world, in respect to themselves. 

"1 am sensible that a work of this kind might, in other hands, have been rendered 
more interesting. It has a long time been the wish of many, that some person 
distinguished for literature would bring it forward; but, as no one has appeared 
who was disposed to lender this service to the republic of letters, the partiality 
of some of my friends led them to entertain the opinion, that my long acquaintance 
with Printing must have afforded me a knowledge of many interesting facts, and 
pointed out the way for further inquiry, and that, therefore, I should assume the 
undertaking. Thus I have been, perhaps too easily, led to engage in a task which 
has proved more arduous than I hail previously apprehended; and which has been 
attended with much expense. 

"It is true, that in the course of fifty years, during which I have been intimately 
connected with the art, I became acquainted with many of its respectable pro- 
fessors; some of whom had, long before me, been engaged in business. From 
them I received information respecting the transactions and events which occurred 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 81 

5. First proof sheets. Lucretia Maccarty died at 
Charlestown, New Hampshire. 

7. Went to Church. 

8. Clerk of the Bank absconded, his name James Dodd. 
10. Went to the Bank. 

13. Went to the bank. Find that the Clerk Defrauded 
the bank of 1000 dollars. 

14. Went to Church. 

15. Isaiah went to Boston. 

19. Lent Mr. Sheldon five dollars. Yesterday and for 
several days past the thermometer stood from 40 to 48 
degrees. This day the mercury fell to 12 degrees below 
zero O. Ground bare. Thermometer in a west entry. 



in their own time, and also concerning those, of which they received the details 
from their predecessors. By these means I have been enabled to record many 
circumstances and events, which must soon have been buried in oblivion. My 
long acquaintance with printing, and the researches I made in several of the colo- 
nies before the revolution, certainly afforded me no inconsiderable aid in this under- 
taking; and, to this advantage, I may add, and I do it with sincere and grateful 
acknowledgments, that I have received the most friendly attention to my inquiries 
from gentlemen in different parts of the United States. 

* * * 

"Yet, notwithstanding all these advantages, I have experienced much difficulty 
in collecting, through this extensive country, the facts which relate to the intro- 
duction of t lie art of Printing in the several states. These facts were all to l>e 
sought for, and the inquiry after them had so long been neglected that the greater 
part of them would soon have passed beyond the reach of our researches. Most 
of the printers mentioned in these volumes have long since been numbered with 
the dead, and of whom many were but little known while living; yet, the essential 
circumstances respecting them, as connected with the art, will, I believe, be found 
in the following pages; although I cannot flatter myself that they will be entirely 
free from unintentional errors or omissions. 

* * * 

"The history of printing in America, I have brought down to the most important 
event in the annals of <>ur country — the Revolution. To have continued it beyond 
this period, all will admit would have been superfluous." 

In 1874 a second edition, following generally omissions and alterations in the 
text made by Mr. Thomas, was published by the American Antiquarian Society. 

6 



82 American Antiquarian Society. 

20. Thermometer 10 degrees below 0. The cold was 
excessive from one end of the United States to the other. 
The wind so forcible as in some places to unroof houses. 
Some barns were blown down, &c. Boston harbor frozen 
over. Several persons died with the spotted fever 1 at 
Dana, in this county. 



•This was an epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, an acute infectious disease, 
ami a form of the genuine meningitis, which has prevailed more extensively in this 
country than in any other part of the civilized world. There have been three very 
distinct epidemics of this disease in this country and in Europe. The first of which 
we have any accurate description, continued through the entire first quarter of 
the nineteenth century, with temporal intermissions of one or more years, and 
spread over the New England states and the middle Atlantic seaboard, reaching 
inland as far, apparently, as any considerable civilization had progressed. Then 
for about fifteen years there was a cessation of activity until, in 1840, it broke out 
again in the West and South, and for the next six years there were intermittent 
limited epidemics. The third started ten years later, reached its height during 
the Civil War, and did not subside until ten years after its close. 

It first appeared in Medford, Mass., in March, 1806, but the number of cases 
was small, and it did not spread so as to attract attention until the following spring, 
when it appeared in Hartford, Conn., and other places on the Connecticut River, 
and in Williamstown, Mass. For several years the disease reappeared in this way, 
disappearing in the summer, and returning late in the winter and spring, and be- 
coming each year more extensive and destructive, until 1813, when it rapidly dimin- 
ished. Strangely enough it avoided the large towns, both on the seacoast and in 
the interior, and seemed to attack the healthy and vigorous, rather than those who 
would be naturally susceptible to it, and the proportion of cases and of deaths was 
much greater among adults of mature age, sound health and temperate and regular 
habits. 

In 1810, the rapid spread of the disease in Massachusetts, and especially in Worces- 
ter County, became so alarming, that in March the Massachusetts Medical Society 
determined to take the matter up, and sent circular letters to the different physi- 
cians in the state, containing questions as to the nature, development and treatment 
of the disease, and asking them to make weekly reports of the cases under their 
observation, to enable the society to publish descriptions as a guide to physicians. 
All these descriptions made special mention of the eruption (spotted fever), as 
well as the nervous phenomena of the disease. Its appearance was generally sud- 
den and violent, and in its course all the functions of the body were more or less 
interrupted, and often some of them were entirely suspended. The subject would 
t>e seized in the midst of his usual occupation, and would often lie >truck down sud- 
denly, almost as by a stroke of lightning. The first symptoms were various, such 
i- Local pain or paralysis, delirium or coma, but there were rarely spasms or con- 
vulsions. Among the varieties of the disease, the following is a description of some 
cases common, especially among women: "Universal deadly coldness; skin white 



Diary of /said// Thomas. 83 

23. Went to the bank. Two children bitten by a mad 
dog at Leicester. The dog was killed in Worcester. He 
bit other dogs here. 

28. Went to Church. Elnathan Pratt ran off. 

30. Went to the bank. 

31. Rode out. 

February, 1810. 

1. Rode out. 

4. Went to Church twice. 

5. Went to the bank. 

6. Stage upset as you enter Worcester from Leicester. 
4 passengers bruised. Stage broken. No sleighing this 



as polished marble anil smooth; countenance perfectly placid; not one distorted 
muscle; pulse in the wrist imperceptible; motion of the heart scarcely to be felt; 
respiration visible only by gasping and that not frequent; and as it were only a 
step between this imperfect state of life and death." / 

Dr. Oliver Fiske gives another report of a case in Worcester: — 

"Of T. S. about 30 years of age; of a sanguine temperament and lax fibre — has 
been subject to typhus almost yearly since he was fourteen years of age, when he 
had cynanche scarlatina very severely. 

"While at work he was seized suddenly with pain in one finger, resembling the 
sting of a bee; this pain darted with the rapidity of lightning from joint to joint, 
until it had passed over all his limbs; it then gave him one general shock like elec- 
tricity, which he had often experienced; at which moment he was deprived of 
sight, and felt a sudden faintness and sickness at stomach, with indescribable dis- 
tress. In this situation he was carried into the house. The pain soon became 
more confined to his head, occasionally visiting the breast, stomach and extremities, 
but was less pungent than at first. Pupils much dilated with a wild, penetrating 
stare; pulse languid and irregular; and great prostration of strength. Reaction 
was produced with great difficulty. Submuriate of quicksilver was administered, 
and the mouth was affected on the third day. On the fourth he had an injection. 
On the fifth he was decidedly convalescent; the vital functions however were re- 
stored by almost imperceptible degrees; he could not be moved, except from one 
side of the bed to the other, until the ninth day. — After that his recovery was more 
rapid." 

At the first appearance of the disease in Worcester County, a large proportion 
of those affected died at an early period, but after it extended more widely, its vio- 
lence diminished, and the proportion of deaths became very small. 



84 American Antiquarian Society. 

winter — excepting for a day or two — and that not 
good . 

7. My brother and his wife came from Lancaster in 
a chaise. 

8. Stevens cut his throat. 
11. Went to Church twice. 

13. My brother and wife returned home. Went to the 
bank. 

14. Esther- Willard, a young woman who has lived 
with us some months, returned home to Lancaster. 

15. My son's wife confined, another Grandson. 

18. No meeting at the North meeting. Mr. Bancroft 
went to Shrewsbury. 

20. No sleighing as yet this winter. The ground has 
been as bare as in June nearly all the month. Not two 
inches of snow at any time past for 6 weeks. 

25. Went to Church twice. 

27. Went to the bank. 

28. A number of gentlemen of Mr. Bancroft's Society 
met this evening at Mower's, 1 at Mr. Bancroft's request. 
He communicated to them the great insufficiency of his 



'This house, which stood on the south corner of Main and Mechanic streets, was 
the site of 1 he first tavern in Worcester, built in 1719, by Captain Moses Rice, of 
Sudbury, and kept by him until his removal to Rutland in 1742. The property 
then passed into the hands of John Chandler, t lie Refugee, who converted it into 
an estate called the "Homestead," building upon it a mansion, in which he lived 
until his banishment. It was later assigned to Mrs. Chandler, as a part of her dower, 
and in 17S5 was bought by Major Kphraim Mower, and the mansion was converted 
into the "Sun Tavern," which was occupied by him, and by his nephew of the same 
name, until 1818. It was then removed to the north side of Mechanic street, and 
the "United States Hotel" was built upon the original site, by William Hovey. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 85 

family, &c* Spotted fever at Dana, <kc, continues. A 
like disorder at St. Albans. 

This month a number of persons died of the spotted 
fever at Dana, Petersham, &c. Death ensued the second 
day after been taken with the malady. In some instances 
they died the same day. 

March, 1810. 

3. Received a letter respecting Eliza, wrote her. 

4. Went to Church twice. 



'In 1789, the members of the Second Parish considered the erection of a church 
to be an actual necessity, and Dr. Bancroft, realizing that the society, in the exist- 
ing conditions of the times, could not do this and at the same time pay him the 
full amount of his salary of five hundred dollars, small as it was, voluntarily re- 
linquished one-third part of it until the building should be completed, on the con- 
ditions that the church should be built at once, and that the parish should become 
bound for the prompt payment of the remainder. 

To maintain a household on this sum was impossible, and although matters 
moved a little more smoothly after the completion of the church, which was dedi- 
cated 1 January, 1792, he found that his salary was not sufficient, to meet the needs 
of his large and growing family. 

In his sermon preached at the termination of fifty years of his ministry, in 1836, 
he says of the trials and struggles of these early years: "My income from the parish 
being quite inadequate to the support of a family, I was obliged to have recourse 
to extraneous means. We for years received as many boarders as our house would 
accommodate. I assisted several youth in their preparation for college, or quali- 
fying themselves for useful stations in busy life; through a long period I admitted 
in the forenoons of week days a number of the daughters and relatives of parish- 
ioners into my study, and gave them the best instruction in my power. The pub- 
lication of Washington's Life yielded some profit; during several years I officiated 
as editor of one or another of our publick journals. 

* * * 

"During the continental war in Europe, necessary articles rose immoderately 
in price, and with my means the family could not be supported. In a conference 
with assembled numbers of the society this fact was declared, and they were in- 
formed that I had encroached on the small capital bequeathed to my wife by her 
father. The appeal was not made in vain. Individuals were liberal in sending 
to our house articles of consumption, and in the seven following years I received 
by special grants, in addition to the annual salary, $900. In 181C, $300 was added 
to the salary, which was continued till the settlement of a colleague, when at my 
instance the salary was reduced to $500, the original amount." 



8(> American Antiquarian Society. 

11. Grandson christened by the name of Edward Weld. 
Went twice to Church. 

15. My son and Rebecca Ewers went to Boston. 

17. My son returned from Boston with Miss Hannah 
Weld. 

IS. Went to Church twice. 

21. Parish meeting. 

22. Spotted fever prevailed at Barre this month. On 
the 22 d March 70 cases of spotted fever were said to be 
then at Barre. It has extended to Oakham and Rutland. 
9 persons died in Barre, one in Rutland, and five are 
reported to have [been] buried yesterday at Oakham. 

25. Spotted fever spreads. New cases in Brookfield, 
Sturbridge, Leicester, Spencer and several other towns, 
and one this day in Worcester, it is less virulent. Went 
to Church once. 

27. My brother came from Lancaster. Went to the 
bank. 

28. My brother returned. Another case of fever in 
Worcester. 

29. Some new cases of spotted fever in Worcester. 
The disease not virulent. 

30. Several new cases of spotted fever in AVorcester. 
None dangerous. 

April, l'SW. 

Turnpike Corporation Dr. 
3 days attendance 4, 5, & 6 °. 

1. Snow all day, 8 inches. Did not go out. 

2. Went in a sleigh to Town meeting. 

3. Dividend at the Bank G pr Cent. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 87 

5. Went to Boston in the Stage at 5 in the Morn*. 

6. Suit of clothes from Thayer. 

7. Saw Eliza. Levi came from Worcester with Coachee. 
More cases of spotted fever, Rev. Mr. Bancroft's 2 eldest 
daughters. 

8. Went to Church. Dined with E. T. Andrews. 

9. Went to the Theatre. 

10. Returned from Boston in the Carriage. 

12. My son and wife went to Boston. Several more 
cases of spotted fever. Not mortal in Worcester. 

13. Dr. Paine's daughter Eliza, buried. 

14. My son's wife returned from Boston. 

15. Went to church once. 

16. Supreme Court week. 

17. Went to the Bank. 

18. Spotted fever made its appearance at Lancaster, 
two deaths. 

20. Mrs. Simmons had a son born. 

21. Judge Sedgwick dined with me; also, his Lady and 
several gentlemen. 

22. Went to Church twice, Mr. Parker preached. 

24. Went to Bank, 300 dols. borrowed. Put the second 
vol. of History of Printing to Press. 

25. My granddaughter Mary — spotted fever — has it 
favorably. 

28. Mrs. Thomas sat off for Boston by the way of 
Lancaster. 

29. Went to Church once. Mr. Sheldon and Mr. Eliot 
dined with me. 

30. Several new cases of spotted fever. 



88 American Antiquarian Society. 

May, 1810. 

1. Went to y e bank. Stiles pd. 25 dols. 

2. My son & Miss Wold went to Boston. Charles 
absented himself all night. 

5. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston with Eliza T. 
& Eliza Ewers. My son returned also. 

6. Went to Church twice. 
10. Rode out. 

13. Wont to Church twice. Frances F. yesterday. 

16. Frances made up. 

18. Mr. Sam 1 . Armstrong, Jun r and wife. Visit. 

19. Mr. Armstrong & wife returned to Boston. 

20. Went to Church twice. 

22. Went to Bank. Isaiah Thomas Andrews, his 
brother, and William Andrews came from Boston. 

23. My son sold his Goods at auction. 

27. Fair, warm. Left off my woolen vestment. 

29. Eliza and Eliza Ewers returned from Lancaster. 
My son broke up housekeeping in Worcester. 

30. My son's family all at my house. 

June, 1810. 

5. Mrs. Parker visited us. Went to Bank. Two 
persons, set up in business by Myself & C°. failed in New 
York. My loss will be not short of 5000 dols. 

6. My niece, Mrs. Parker, returned to Lancaster. 2 

mad dogs in (he streets of Worcester. My Co. lost by 
the failure of two persons in the State of New York nearly 
8 thousand dols. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 89 

10. My son came from Boston. 

12. Went to bank. 

17. AAVnt to Church twice. 

19. AVont to the pond. 

20. My son went to Boston. 

21. Mr. E. T. Andrews arrived at Worcester and went 
on to Albany. 

26. AA r ent to bank. Three persons died in Worcester 
this day, viz. Mr. Townsend of Boston, on a journey, and 
an invalid, Miss Healey, and a child drowned in the canal. 

29. Went to Boston with Eliza Ewers. Arrived there 
at 2 "Clock afternoon. 

30. Lodged at my son's. 

July, 1810. 

1. AA r ent to M r . Emerson's Church. 1 

2. AA'ent to Jamaica Plains; dined with John Andrews. 

3. Mrs. Ball came to visit us some weeks. 

4. Dined at Faneuil Hall in Boston — dinner 4 dollars. 
Two men wounded by firing a canon on board a ship, one 
had both arms, the other one arm shot off. 

5. Attended Turnpike Directors. 

6. Returned to AYorcestcr this day with Lucy Mac- 
carty. 2 

10. AArent to bank, my week. 

12. Got home load of hay. Pd. 400 dols. for Adlington. 



1 Rev. William Emerson, father of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was the minister 
of the First Church, in Chauncy place, from 1799 to 1811. 

2 Lucy, thirteenth child of Rev. Thaddeus and Mary Gatcomb Maccarty. 
[Born, Worcester. 25 June, 17(10. Died, Worcester, 2.i June. 1813.] 



!H> American Antiquarian Society. 

13. Mrs. Legato of Leominster and Mrs. Thayer of 
Boston paid us a visit. 

14. Mrs. Legate and Mrs. Thayer went to Leominster; 
Eliza went with them. (Jot home another load of hay. 

15. Went to Church twice. My son came up from 
Boston. 

17. "Went to Bank. My son sat out for Burlington, 
Vermont. President Webber of Harvard College died. 

18. Finished writing "History of Printing." 

21. Rode out. 

22. Went to Church twice. 

24. Rode out. Went to Bank. 

25. Eliza returned from Lancaster. 

27. My son returned from Burlington, Vermont. Dr. 
Simmons sick. 

28. Addition to Library of Shelves. 

29. AVent to Church twice. Rev. Peter Whitney 1 
preached. No singing. Dr. Simmons dangerously ill with 
a typhus fever. 

31. My son wont to Boston. I attended at the bank. 

August, 1 cS 10. 

1. Went to Boston in Coachee with my niece Mrs. 
Ball. Dined at Framingham with Benj\ Russell 2 and wife, 
etc. 



1 Rev. Peter Whitney, minister of the church in Northborough from 1707 until 
In- death in 1816, is best known as being the author of the first history of Worcester 
County, which was published by Mr. Thomas in 1703. This history contained 
the first map iif tlic county made from actual survey. 

2 Benjamin Russell, t lie sun of John Russell, a mason by trade, received what 
education Ik- ever hail, in the schools of Boston. As a buy he was a remarkably 



Diari/ of Isaiah Thomas. 91 

2. Attended Turnpike Directors. 

3; Returned to Worcester with Mrs. Belli. 

5. Went to Church twice. Moses Thomas very ill of 
a fever. 

6. Obadiah Penniman called on me, bound to Provi- 
dence. 

7. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster with Mrs. Ball, 
and Miss Lucy Maccarty. 



good student, and spent much of his time in the printing office of Mr. Thomas, 
where he acquired considerable skill as a typesetter. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution he was in his fifteenth year, and on the day 
of the battle of Lexington, fie followed the troops to Cambridge, with several boys 
of his age, intending to return with them. But before night all communication 
with Boston was cut off, and having no means of providing for themselves, they 
became waiters or errand boys to the officers. After more than three months 
of this life Russell, with two or three soldiers, was carrying provisions to General 
Putnam's headquarters on Prospect Hill, when he met his father and one of his 
uncles in a chaise, and he said in later years, "My father jumped from the chaise 
and gave me the hardest flogging I ever had." He was then taken into the chaise, 
carried to Worcester and apprenticed to Mr. Thomas. 

During the first year or two that he was in Worcester, Mr. Thomas was so poor 
that his apprentices slept in a garret over the printing office, on the rags taken 
in for the paper-maker, and he often made his meals with them in the office, on 
bread and "milk bought by the penny-worth at a time." 

The apprentices sometimes wrote paragraphs for the paper, and put them under 
the door of the office, not caring to be known as "scribblers" for a newspaper. 
One day Mr. Thomas found Russell correcting an article of his own, and repri- 
manded him severely, although the latter proved that the correction was much 
better than the original. Sometime later an article containing severe personal 
reflections on some of the Tories caused a good deal of excitement, and efforts were 
made to discover the writer. Russell at last confessed, but no reprimand followed. 

When Mr. Thomas was drafted as a continental soldier, in 1780, Russell eagerly 
seized the opportunity of going as his substitute. He joined the army at West 
Point, and while there furnished the Massachusetts Spy with its war news. He 
saw no active service, but he was one of the guard that conducted Andre to t he- 
place of execution. At the end of six months he was honorably discharged, and 
returned to Worcester to serve out his time. When he was twenty, however, he in- 
sisted that his release was only a fair consideration for having acted as Mr. Thomas's 
substitute, and the latter reluctantly consented. He worked as a journeyman 
until November, 1783, when he became anxious to engage in business for himself, 
and having with great difficulty procured a little type, he issued, with William 
Warden, a proposal for the publication of The Ufassachueetts Centinel and the Re- 



92 American Antiquarian Society. 

8. Mess. Henry & Benj a . Andrews came from Boston. 

9. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster. Mr. Benj a . 
Andrews returned to Boston. 

14. Finished at Press the "History of Printing." 

16. Moses Thomas & wife from Sterling. 

17. Moses Thomas & wife returned to Sterling. 

18. Sam 1 . Bridgham 1 & wife from Providence visited 
us. James Putnam died. 2 



publican Journal, the first number of which appeared 24 March, 1784. Two years 
later Warden died, and he continued the publication of the paper alone. In 1790 
its name was changed to The Columbian Centinel. 

Himself an able writer, Mr. Russell was aided by Stephen Higginson, John Lowell, 
Fisher Ames, Timothy Pickering and George Cabot, and the Centinel almost im- 
mediately became the leading Federalist paper in New England. 

In 1788 Mr. Russell attended the Massachusetts convention for the ratification 
of the Constitution of the United States, and made the first attempt at reporting 
for any Boston newspaper. He was especially enterprising in collecting foreign 
news, and for this purpose he visited all the foreign vessels which entered Boston 
harbor. Regular files of the Moniteur were kept at the Centinel office, which fre- 
quently brought Louis Philippe and Talleyrand there when they were in Boston. 

During the first session of Congress, when the country was almost bankrupt, 
Mr. Russell wrote to the Department of State, and offered to publish gratuitously 
all the laws and other official documents. They were accordingly sent to him 
and published "by authority." At the end of several years he was called upon 
for his hill, which was made out and receipted according to his pledge. Washington 
would not consent to this, saying: "This must not be. When Mr. Russell offered 
to publish the laws without pay we were poor. It was a generous offer. We are 
now able to pay our debts. This is a debt of honor and must be discharged." A 
few days Inter Mr. Russell received a check for seven thousand dollars. 

Mr. Russell continued to be the sole editor of the Centinel until 1829, when he 
sold it to Joseph T. Adams and Thomas Hudson, and retired to private life. 

Mr. Russell represented Boston in the General Court for twenty-four years, served 
several terms in the State Senate, was a member of the Executive Council and of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1820. 

[Horn, Boston, 3 September, 1761. Died, Boston, 4 January, 1845.] 

'Samuel Willard Bridgham was graduated from Brown in 1794, was admitted 
tu the bar two years later, and became a successful lawyer in Providence. He was 
a member of the Rhode [sland Bouse '>f Representatives and its speaker in 1826; 
attorney-general of Rhode [sland from 1814 to 1818; first mayor of Providence 
from 1832 tu 1840; trustee of Brown University from 1821 t" 1840; and chancellor 
from 1828 to 1840. 

[Born, Providence, 1774. Died, Providence, 28 December, 1840.] 

'■(>,, Saturday last, JAMES PUTNAM, A.B. aged 20, in whose death Science 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 93 

19. Went to Church twice. 

20. James Putnam buried at 10 "Clock before noon. 

21. Note at Bank, 1600 Dols. 

23. Paid 1000 dols. for my son. 

24. My son came from Boston with two children, 
Frances & Caroline. Levi Harry cut his foot and left 
my employment. 

27. Hired Bristol. 

28. My son and his daughter Frances returned to 
Boston. 

29. Rev. Mr. Nash and Lady and Rev. Mr. Bancroft 
and Lady dined witli me. Went to Lecture. Mrs. Legate 
from Leominster. 

September, 1810. 

3. My Son and Grandson came from Boston. I have 
devoted the last four days to revising the Constitution, 
&c. of the Grand Lodge, as Chairman of the Committee 
for that purpose. Levi came back and lived with me. 



mourns another votary added to the victims of her great adversary Consumption.' 
At the early age of 17, he graduated from Harvard University. Talents, manners, 
and habits had there rendered him esteemed and respected, and on leaving Cam- 
bridge, he bore with him the affectionate remembrance of his Fellow-Students, 
and the distinguished notice of the Government. A delicate and feeble constitution 
did not arrest his progress in literary improvement. He commenced with zeal 
the study of physic and surgery, and was pursuing it with satisfaction and success, 
when the first glow of hectic admonished him to desist. Distressing and protracted 
were his sufferings, but he was firm and patient in their endurance. Fond and 
flattering were his anticipations, but he was composed and submissive to their 
disappointment. Friendship will long lament his absence, and maternal affection 
cease not to deplore his loss; but friendship and affection will find (-(insolation in the 
assurance, that life is but a weary pilgrimage to virtue, that the abode of happiness 
is beyond the grave"' — National .Ha is, 22 Auffunt, 1810. 

James Putnam was the son of Ebenezer and Elisabeth Putnam of St. John, 
N. B., and grandson of James Putnam, of Worcester, one of the Tory refugees. 



94 America)) Antiquarian Society. 

I have advanced 5000 dollars to Dr. Simmons, he has run 
through the whole, & more. 

4. Went to Bank. 

6. Dr. Simmons, his wife and family came to Boston. 

7. Went to Boston. 

8. Lodged at my son's. 

9. Went to Church. My son returned to Boston from 
Worcester. 

10. Attended Grand Lodge. Lodged at Mrs. Ewers. 

11. Dined with E. T. Andrews. 

12. Went to Jamaica Plains. 

13. Wry warm. Took cold. Dr. Simmons & family 
left Boston. Bee' 1 . .'-500 dolls, from the Co- v . 

14. Went to Worcester with Mrs. Ewers. 

16. Went to Church twice. 

17. Went to Lancaster with Mrs. Ewers, and lodged 
at my brother's. 

18. Regimental review, &c. at Lancaster. Was present. 
Troops in Uniform and made a good appearance. Re- 
turned to Worcester. Went to the Bank. 

19. Raised the arch at the Entrance of the turnpike. 1 

24. Great freshets. It rained steadily 24 hours. 

25. Storm continued, more rain. Mr. Mycall came and 
tarried with me. 

26. Storm abated. My Son came up from Boston. 

27. Judge Sedgwick and Lady. Hon. T. Bigelow, &c. 

dined with me. 



■This was :i large, low, wooden arch at the entrance of what is now Belmont 
street. On its western side was the inscription, ":!7; miles to Boston line," and 
over the centre was a large bird. There was a similar arch at the eastern end of 
the road, at the Punch Bowl Tavern in Broohline. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 95 

28. Mrs. Sheldon died. 

29. Mr. Mycall returned. 

30. Went to Church twice. Mrs. Sheldon carried to 
Thompson to be buried. Contribution for Missionary 

Society. 

October, 1810. 

1. Attended bank all day to examine Cash, notes, &c. 
Mrs. Andrews, Miss Andrews, her son and Miss Armstrong 
arrived from Boston. 

2. My son sat out for Boston, and I went with Anson 
Whipple and Levi in the Coachee for Walpole, lodged at 
Morse's in Winchendon. 

3. Sat out early in the morning, breakfasted at Fitz- 
william. Arrived at Walpole at 4 "Clock p. m. Lodged 
at Southey's. Was again chosen a Director of Worcester 
Bank. 

4. My son's youngest child, named Edw. Weld, died. 

5. Dined with R. Vose, Esq 1 ". 1 

6. Eliza went to Lancaster. 

7. Left Walpole this morning, and breakfasted at 
Keene with A. Whipple; lodged at Templeton. Left A. 
Whipple at Keene; sent him to St. Albans, &c. 

8. Arrived at Worcester. Child buried. 

9. Attended at Bank. 

11. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Armstrong went to Lancaster. 

13. Went to Sterling. Dined with Mrs. T. and Miss 
Armstrong at my nephew's in Sterling. 

14. Dined with Mr. Sheldon. Samuel Armstrong, the 
younger, from Boston, visited me. 



1 Roger Vose, a lawyer in Walpole, had been formerly a teacher in the Grammar 
School in Worcester. 



i)i! American Antiquarian Society. 

15. Mr. S. Armstrong returned. 

16. Went to Bank. 

17. Went to Sutton to see the Gun Manufactory. 

18. 2 or 3 houses burnt in Boston. 

21. A. Whipple returned from St. Albans. My son 
and his daughter Mary came up from Boston. 

22. Went as far as Framingham with Miss R. Arm- 
strong. Dined at Wheeler's in Framingham with Miss R. 
Armstrong, Mr. Dan 1 . Waldo, Mr. Jos. Allen, 1 Mrs. Newman 
and Wm. Andrews, son of John Andrews. The two latter 
came to meet Miss Armstrong, and take her home. 

23. Went to the bank. No discount at the Bank. 

27. My brother's wife came from Lancaster with Eliza. 

28. Went to Church twice. Mr. Nash preached. 



'Joseph Allen was the son of James Allen, a Boston merchant , ami Mary Adams 
Allen, a sister of Samuel Adams. In 1770 he opened a store in Leicester, and 
while there was active in the preliminary movements of the Revolution. In 177G 
he succeeded Levi Lincoln as clerk of the courts, and held that office until 1810. 
He removed to Worcester, and lived first in the James Putnam house at the cor- 
ner of Main and Park streets. In a few years he built a house at the north corner 
of Main and School streets, and during the last years of his life he lived at the north 
coiner of Main and Pearl streets. In 1810 he was chosen to the 11th Congress 
to till out the unexpired term of Jabez Upham, but declined a re-election. From 
1815 to 1818 he was a member of the Executive Council, was twice a presidential 
elector; and was one of the founders and the first treasurer of Leicester Academy. 

( Jovi-rnor Lincoln, in his " Fire Society Reminiscences," says: "In personal appear- 
ance, neatness and appropriateness of attire, and suavity of address, as I recollect 
him, he was the very impersonation of the graces of the manners of the olden time. 
As 1 first saw him, in his official relation to the robed Judges on the Bench, with 
his cocked hat, and powdered hair, ruffled shirt-bosom and wristbands, velvet 
small clothes, and silver knee and shoe Buckles, it seemed to me, that there was 
a mysterious dignity about the Courts, which gave a sanctity to the very forms 
of Justice. To the impressiveness of his manner in performing the higher duties 
of the office of Clerk, no one could be insensible. The precision with which he 
impanelled a jury, the clearness and emphasis which he gave to the reading of 
important papers, the distinctness and solemnity with which he administered oaths, 
were peculiar excellencies in him, which, for their effect, I have never known ap- 
proached even, by any other." 

[Born, Boston, -I September, 1749. Died, Worcester, 1 September, 1827. | 



Diary of IsainJi Thomas. i»7 

29. My brother's wife returned to Lancaster. 

30. No discount at the Bank. 

31. Young men met at Sykes', in order to consider of 
regulations for an Assembly the ensuing season, and at 
their request, I met with them. 

November, 1810. 

1. Young [men] met again, and chose me a manager 
of the proposed assembly. 

4. Went twice to Church. 

5. Representatives to Congress chosen. 

6. Went to bank. No discounts. 

10. Went to Church twice. Rev. Dr. Puffer preached. 1 
He dined with me. 

12. On the 12 th began a Court Marshal for the trial 
of Capt. Watson of Leicester and 3 other captains in the 
militia for disobedience of orders, &c. This Court sat 
till the 17 th . & then adjourned. 

15. This Evening the Assembly for the season com- 
menced at Major Healy's hall, 2 23 Ladies and 18 Gentle- 
men present. I officiated as manager this Evening. 

18. Judge Sedgwick dined with me. AVent to Church 
twice. 



1 Rev. Reuben Puffer, minister of the Church in Berlin, 1781-1S29. 

-' It is supposed that this hall was built by Major Jedediah Healy, for the manu- 
facture of coffins, as he was a cabinet-maker by trade, and the town sexton or under- 
taker for a number of years. It stood in the rear of the southerly pari of the present 
Barnard Building, about twenty-five or thirty feet from the street, and was entered 
through a passageway between the house of James Wilson, the postmaster, and 
that of Mr. Healy, which was later the residence of Samuel M. Burnside. It was long 
the lodge-room of Morning Star Lodge, and after it ceased to be occupied for masonic 
purposes, was used for dances, lectures and other amusements, and later was the 
printing office of Henry J. Howland. It is described as being seventeen feet wide 

and about thirty-eight feet in length. 
7 



98 American Antiquarian Society. 

19. Supreme Court met agreeably to adjournment. 
Mr. Mycall came and lodged at my house. 

20. Went to the Bank. 

22. Judge Sedgwick & Lady, &c. dined with us. Mr. 
Mycall returned home. 

23. Mrs. Thomas has been troubled with the rheuma- 
tism for a fortnight past. 

24. Dined at M r . Stedman's. 1 

25. Went to Church twice. Spent the evening with 
Col. Clapp with others. 

27. Went to the bank. 

28. My brother and his wife came from Lancaster. 

29. Thanksgiving. My brother, his wife, Mr. Sheldon 
and children dined with me. 

December, 1810. 

1. My brother returned to Lancaster. 

2. Went to Church twice. 



1 William Stedman was graduated from Harvard in 1784, studied law in the office 
of Chief Justice Francis Dana, and was admitted to the bar, in Essex, in 1787. He 
opened an office in Lancaster, where he lived for many years, and had a large prac- 
tice as a counsellor, but did not attain great success as an advocate. He repre- 
sented Lancaster in the General Court in 1802, and was member of Congress from 
the Worcester North District from 1803 to 1810, when he declined a re-election. In 
the latter year he succeeded Joseph Allen as clerk of the courts, and removed to 
Worcester. In 1811, being a decided Federalist, he was removed by Governor 
Gerry, but was re-instated in the following summer by Governor Strong, and held 
the office until 1816. An easy and affable manner, and a great fund of ready wit, 
rendered him popular everywhere, and while in Washington he was a general fa- 
vorite. 

lie lived in Worcester, first in the house which bad been occupied by Isaiah 
Thomas, Jr., opposite the Court House, and then in the Elijah Dix house. After 
his retirement he returned to Lancaster, and the latter part of his life was spent 
in Newburyport. 

Mr. Stedman married Almy, daughter of William Ellery, of Newport, R. I., one 
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

[Born, Cambridge, 20 January, 1705. Died, Newburyport, 31 August, 1831.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 99 

3. Town granted the Centre district the amount of 
the highway tax of the district for two years, to rebuild 
and widen the Bridge by the Court house, the town other- 
ways to be at no expense towards that business. 1 

5. Court of Common Pleas sitting. 



1 At t he town meeting, 5 November, 1810, Jeremiah Robinson, Theophilus Wheeler 
and others presented a petition, asking that the bridge at Lincoln square should 
be rebuilt or repaired, and the road by the jail widened, and that an appropriation 
be made for that purpose; and Benjamin Heywood, Thomas Nichols, John Totman, 
Edward Bangs, Samuel Brazer, Oliver Fiske and Nathan White were chosen a 
committee to report upon the matter. They reported at the meeting 3 December, 
lfclO, that, "This bridge, in its present situation, consists of three narrow sluice 
ways, so low, that before the water can pass over the dam on the lower side of the 
Bridge, those sluice ways are compleatly filled up with dead water, and whenever 
there is a sudden increase (which frequently happens in the Spring of the year) 
the water must accumulate on the upper side and flow over it thereby greatly 
endangering the Bridge and discommoding the Inhabitants. 

"The Committee are therefore fully of opinion, that both for the safety of the 
Town and convenience of the public travil it is indispensibly necessary this bridge 
should be taken up and rebuilt and raised so as to be nearly upon a leavel with 
the abutment at the end of the turnpike. That, to afford sufficient conveniency 
for the accomodation of the public, it w-ill also be necessary to extend the Bridge 
further South so as to occasion the removal of the Hatters Shop now there and 
embrace a portion of M r . Lincolns land. The terms upon which M r . Lincoln will 
consent, as the Committee are informed to a removal of this shop and that a strip 
of land about two rods wide should be laid out into a public highway are as follows 
viz. That the shop shall — removed and fitted up in such a manner as shall be 
suitable for improvement. That the water shall be conveyed into the canal for 
the accomodation of the works below, either by constructing a dam of a sufficient 
heighth below the Bridge, or by extending the canal through, so as to receive the 
water on the North side, all which is to be at the expence of the Town, and that 
he shall be paid two lumdred dollars for the land. The whole it is believed will 
amount to five hundred dollars, which added to the probable expence of rebuilding 
the Bridge will make nearly fifteen hundred dollars in the whole. This sum if raised 
by an additional tax upon the Inhabitants at large would impose so heavy a burden 
as to prove a descouragement to the undertaking." 

The Committee therefore recommended that, as for several years the Centre 
School District had been assessed for about one-half of the annual highway tax 
of two thousand dollars, and as the roads in the other parts of the town were in 
good condition, the highway tax of that district for the next two years should 
be appropriated for rebuilding the bridge, provided that sufficient assurance should 
be given of it- completion within that time. The report was accepted, and the 
same committee was chosen to complete the work. 



100 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. My brother returned from Lancaster, and brought 
Olivia, a girl to live in the family. 

7. My brother and his wife returned to Lancaster. 

8. Went to Boston. Sat off § past 1 "Clock & arrived 
at 9 in the Evening. 

9. Kept house. 

10. Attended Grand Lodge. Dined with W m . Andrews. 

11. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 

12. Got a number of old books. 

13. AValked over to Cambridgeport to see Mr. Mycall. 

14. Dined with Mrs. Ewers. 

15. "Went to Cambridgeport, walked there with Mr. 
Mycall. Lodged at his house. 

16. Went twice to Church at Cambridgeport, then 
returned to Boston. 

17. Attended Grand Lodge, presided. Grand Master, 
&c. installed. 

18. Attended Turnpike Directors' Meeting. Dined with 
Turnpike Directors. 

19. Went to the Theatre. Dined with E. T. Andrews. 
Settled Coy's accounts for last year. 

20. Went to Rennie's Exhibition. Turnpike Corpora- 
tion met. Chose Directors, I was re-elected. 

21. 3 houses burnt in Marlboro' Street. 

22. Returned from Boston with my son, his daughter 
Mary k Miss Rebecca Ewers. 

23. Went once to church. 

25. Mr. Sheldon & Moses Thomas to dine. Went to 
the Bank. 

27. Attended at Worcester Assembly. 

30. Went to Church twice. Mr. Nash preached. 



Diary of Isaiah. Thomas. 101 

January, 1811. 

1. Went to bank. 

5. Went to paper Mill, and Sam 1 . Fullerton's funeral. 
Settled with my son, our Accounts. 

6. Went once to Church. 

7. Attended at the bank all day sorting bills, and 
destrojdng such as were too much torn to be again issued. 1 
Supped at Sikes' with the fire club, being the Annual 
Meeting of the Society; was chosen Chairman. 2 Bought 
5 cords wood. 



1 It was customary for the banks, when their bills had become worn or, as was 
often the case, those of any denomination had been counterfeited, to recall and 
burn the whole issue, and to print new bills. 

2 At a meeting of the Members of the Worcester Fire Society, holden at Col. R. 
Sikes' Inn on Monday the Seventh day of Jan?. 1811, at 6 o'Clock v. m., the Roll 
being called the following Members were absent, Viz. The whole Evening — Joseph 
Allen, Esq'.; Edw d Bangs, Esq r . ; Col. D. Clap; M'. Sam' Chandler; Nat h> Paine, 
Esq'; Capt. D. Denny; Nath 1 Maccarty, Esq r : at Roll call only — Francis Blake, 
Esq'. ; Doct. John Green. 

Chose Isaiah Thomas, Esq'. Moderator. 

Voted, To accept of the Clerks Report being as follows — viz — The Clerk of the 

Worcester Fire Society begs leave to Report That on the 3 rd day of Jan? Ins 1 — 

in Company with Nath 1 Maccarty & Francis Blake Esq" he visited the dwelling 

Houses and usual places of abode of the Several Members of the said Society — 

and found their Buckets Bags & Bed Keys in their proper places and in Good order — 

Also your Committee aforesaid examined the Ladders belonging to the Said Society 

and found them in the places assigned for them, and in good repair and fit for 

use — all which is Submitted 

by J. ROBINSON Clerk 

Jaw 7 1811 

Voted, That M r Isaiah Thomas Jr have leave to withdraw from this Society 
(having removed from Town) he paying up his fines now due — 

Voted, To proceed to the choise of a Clerk, and Hon. W m Stedman was drawn, 
and of course was chosen but declined Serving and paid his fine of £2 — 

Proceeded the Second time for the choice of a Clerk, and the Hon. Nath 1 Paine 
was drawn, and he declined and paid his Fine also of $2. — 

Proceeded the Third time to the Choise of a Clerk and M r Geer Terry was drawn 
and accepted the appointment. 

Proceeded to the Choise of a Svb-Clerk and Isaiah Thomas Esq r was drawn and 
of course was chosen. 

Chose Daniel Waldo Esq Treasurer for this Society the present year — 

Voted, to choose a Committee of Three to Settle with the late Clerk J. Robinson 



102 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. My son returned to Boston with Eliza. They went 
in the Stage. Bad travelling. No snow on, nor frost in 
the ground. Paid 300 dollars more for my son-in-law. 
Bought 6 cords wood. My son was 17 hours going to 
Boston in the Stage. Left Worcester at 11 °Clock this 
day. and arrived at 4 "Clock next morning. 

11. Paid Oliver Day of St. Albans 300 dols. for my 
son-in-law. 

13. Went to Church twice. No singing. 

14. Mrs. Thomas had her annual Company. 

15. Went to the Bank. Heard that my property in 
the hands of Cheever Felch, at Walpole, N. H., was all 
attached by his Creditors. 

16. Sent Anson Whipple to look after my property 
attached by Felch's Creditors at Walpole. The property 
amounts to between 6000 & 7000 dollars. 

17. Assembly this Evening. Visited the Tanyard. 

IS. Moses Thomas paid his note. 

19. Rec d . from T. & A. 125 dollars for Rent pd. them 
for me. Bought 5 cords of wood. 

and transfer the Books and papers to the new Clerk M r (leer Terry, and to Settle 
with the Treasurer M r Waldo, also, and make their report at the next meeting 
of the Society — and Chose Oliver Fisk Esq' Cap'., Asa Hamilton it M>. Silas Brooks, 
( 'ommittee. 

Voted, Not to remit the Hon. W m Stedmans Fine — 

Voted, Not to remit Nath 1 Maccarty Esq™ Fine 

Voted, Not to have an engraved Plate procured for this Society. 

Voted To Receive the 4.50 Card Tickets Printed by M' Isaiah Thomas Jun and 
to pay him therefor the Sum of Three Dollars. 

Voted) Unanimously to admit Cap' Ephraim Mower as Member of this Soeiety. 

Voted, Thai M» Silas Brooks he a Committee to inform (apt Ephraim Mower 
of his admission into this Society. 

Voted, That a Sum not exceeding Twenty Dollars be appropriated towards the 
expense Of this Evening, out of the Money in the Hands of the Treasurer of this 
Society. 

Voted, To dissolve this Meeting — 

A true I '.nt ry 

Atte-t .1. ROBINSON Clerk 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 103 

20. Went once to Church. 

22. Went to the bank. 

24. A. Whipple returned from Walpole. 

27. Went to Church twice. 

29. Went to the Bank. 

30. Finished my Will. 

February, 1811. 

3. Severe Snow Storm. Did not go out. 

5. Went to the Camp. 

7. Went to the Assembly and assisted as manager. 
Eliza Ewers died. 

10. Sent Rebecca Ewers to Boston in a Sleigh, and 
J. Putnam with Levi. 

12. Levi returned from Boston with my son. 

15. Moses Thomas & Children visited us. 

16. Spent the Eveng. at Mr. Stedman's. 

17. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Nash dined with me. 

18. Dismissed Elliot as Editor of y e Spy. 1 



•James Elliot, a self-educated man, had served under General Wayne in the 
northwestern campaigns of 1793-179G as a non-commissioned officer. While 
preparing for the bar he was a clerk in a country store in Guilford, Vt., and con- 
tributed, both in prose and verse, to the Greenfield Gazette, Farmers' Museum, and 
other papers. After living for a short time in Philadelphia, where he edited the 
Freeman's Journal, he practised law in Brattleboro, Vt.', and from 1803 to 1809 
was a representative from that state. 

In June, 1810, he announces in the National sEgis that he "has taken that ex- 
cellently situated Office, some time since occupied by Levi Lincoln, Jr. Esq. near 
the Court House, and nearly opposite Col. Sikes' Stage Inn. He will attend at 
all hours, from 4 in the morning to 10 at night, and those who employ him may 
depend upon his industry. He has been admitted as an Attorney and Counsellor 
at the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, at the seat of government, 
and will appear in the Federal Courts if required." 

In October, 1810, he leased the Massachusetts Spy of Isaiah Thomas. Jr., 



104 American Antiquarian Society. 

19. Installed the Master of Trinity Lodge & went to 
the bank. 

24. Went to church twice. 

25. Went with about 50 others on a sleigh ride to 
Westboro. Supped in Worcester at Jennison's. 1 



but his views were too mild to suit the Federalists of Woreester, and his bombastic 
style exposed him to so much ridicule, especially to that of Samuel Brazer, the 
editor of the Mq%&, that Mr. Thomas was induced to rescind the agreement. Two 
days later Elliot issued the following circular: 

POSTSCRIPT EXTRAORDINARY. 

TO THE 

MASSACHUSETTS SPY! 

SECOND EDITION. 
WEDNESDAY MORNING, Feb. 20, 1811. 

THE Subscriber has been notified by two agents of the 
Federal Committee, that a violent Trespass, not to say 
Robbery, will be committed upon his legal and equitable pro- 
perty in this establishment to-morrow. Should it take place, 
he may not be able to publish the Spy next week. But he 
pledges himself to the good People of this county, that he will 
sustain his rights in this establishment, at the expence of every 
cent of his property and every drop of his (blood) ink. And 
he humbly trusts in the goodness of his God for ample power 
to redeem this solemn pledge ! 



JAMES ELLIOT. 



After leaving Worcester Mr. Elliot lived in Philadelphia and Putney, Yt., ami 
after having served as a captain in the army for a short time, again became 
connected with the Freeman's Journal. In 1815 he removed to Brattleboro, N't., 
and practised law, and afterwards held several important state offices. 

He married, in iso:?. Lucy, daughter of Moses Dow, of Haverhill. 

[Bora, 177."). Died, Newfane, Yt., 10 November, 1839.] 

■The .lennison Tavern, on Lincoln street, near the old Boylston road, a noted 
place for halls and suppers, was kept by Samuel .lennison for about thirty years, 
until his death in 1816. It was afterwards kept several years by Adin Ayres and 
Oliver Eager, until it was bough! by the town for a poor-farm. 

See cutis-, "p January, 1818. 



Diary of tsaiah Thomas. 105 

March, 1811. 

3. Went to Church twice. 

5. Went to the bank. 

6. Mr. Sheldon dined with me — first going abroad 
after Sickness. 

10. Went to Church twice. 

11. Cheever Felch arrived just as I was sending off 
Mr. Whipple to see him at Rutland, Vermont. 

12. A. Whipple sat out with Felch, via of Boston for 
Walpole. Referees on Dr. Fisk's account against Turnpike 
Corporation met. 

13. Seymour Sheldon came to live with me. 

14. Jane Bancroft 1 has been with us about 3 weeks 
this month. 

17. Went once to Church. 

20. Went to Sutton, with the celebrated Dr. Smith, 2 
and others. The Dr. went with me, as did Dr. Fiske & 
Mr. Blake. Dr. Smith operated on a subject about 22 
years of age born with a cataract on each eye. The Case 
was difficult. The Dr. operated on one eye only, from 
which he removed the cataract. In the evening the D r . 



'Jane Putnam, the daughter of Aaron and Lucretia Chandler Bancroft, was 
married 10 October, 1825, to Donato Gherardi, of Northampton, a political refugee 
from Italy. In the fall of 1827 they went to Louisiana, where they established 
a private school. 

[Born, Worcester, 12 November, 1708. Died, New Orleans, 14 October, 1843.] 
2 Dr. Nathan Smith, of Dartmouth, who was noted as a surgeon throughout 
New England. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1790, and worked 
on a farm until he was twenty-four. He afterwards studied medicine, practised 
a few years in Cornish, N. II., and then attended the medical lectures at Harvard. 
Upon the establishment of the medical department of Dartmouth College, he was 
made its professor, and bad charge of the Yale Medical School, from its beginning 
in lsl?,, retaining however the chair at Dartmouth. He also gave courses of lec- 
tures at the University of Vermont and Bowdoin College. 
[Born, Rehobnth, Muss., 30 September, 17112. Died. New Haven. 26 January, 1829. 1 



■ 10n American Antiquarian Society. 

dissected the eye of an ox. I was present at this curious 
operation. 

21. Mr. Stedman and wife and Dr. Bancroft, Evening 
visit. 

24. Went twice to Church. 

25. My Son and Eliza came from Boston in the Stage. 

27. Rec d . 12 letters from gentlemen in Philacl". written 
to John Dunlap, 1 Esq., and by him sent to me, post paid, 
much in favor of the His y . of Printing. Rec d . ISO dollars 
from Canada. 

28. Mr. Mycall came up from Boston. 
30. My Son returned to Boston. 



April, 1811. 

Charge 3 days Turnpike Corporation. Postage — 10 
Letters. Candidates for Governor Christopher Gore and 
Elbridge Gerry. 2 



1 John Dunlap, as a young boy, went to live with an uncle, a Philadelphia printer, 
to whose business he succeeded at the age of eighteen, and became one of the most 
successful printers and editors of the country. In November, 1771, he began the 
publication of the Pennsylvania Packet, which was devoted to the patriot cause 
during the Revolution. From 1784 it was a daily paper, the first in the United 
States, and was afterwards known as The North American and U. S. Gazette. As 
printer to Congress, he first issued the "Declaration of Independence." 

[Born, Strabane, Ireland, 1747. Died, Philadelphia, 27 November, 1812.] 

-' Christopher Gore, the son of John and Frances Pinckney Gore, of Boston, was 
graduated from Harvard in 177<>, studied law with Judge Lowell, and acquired a 
large practice in Boston. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional 
Convention in 1788, and served as the first district attorney for Massachusetts, from 
1790 to 17<N'>. He was then appointed commissioner to England, to settle the Brit- 
ish spoliation claims, and remained in London eight years, during the last of which 
he was charge d'affaires. On his return he served several years in the General Court ; 
was governor of Massachusetts in 1809; United States senator from 1813 to 1816; 
and a presidential elector in the following year. 

lb- made many gifts to Harvard during his lifetime, the law library being his es- 
pecial care; and the college was made his residuary legatee. This devise, amount- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 107 

2. Attended Bank. 

3. Went to Boston. Edited the Spy the last 6 weeks. 
Delivered it over to D r . Fiske April 4 th . 

4. Attended Turnpike Directory. 

5. Returned to Worcester. Rec d . Rent. Com ee . for 
Bridge met. 

6. My brother came from Lancaster. 

7. Went to Church. 

8. My brother returned to Lancaster. Moses Thomas 
visit. 

9. Went to bank. Supreme Court. Hired Blanchard, 
a young man to work on Farm. He is to begin next Mon- 
day. 



Lag to nearly one hundred thousand dollars, was the largest individual gift made to 
Harvard up to that time; and for this (lore Hall was named in his honor. 

Governor Gore received the degree of LL.T). from Harvard in 1809. He was an 
overseer of the college from 1810 to 1815, and a fellow from 1812 to 1820; was 
president of the Massachusetts Historical Society from 1806 to 1808; a fellow of the 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and a member of the American Antiqua- 
rian Society. 

[Born, Boston, 21 September, 175S. Died, Waltham, 1 March, 1829.] 

Elbridge Gerry, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, after his gradua- 
tion from Harvard, in 1762, entered business, and in a few years acquired a competent 
fortune. He early took an active part in the Revolution; was 'a member of the 
Committees of Correspondence and Safety ; represented Marblehead in the Provincial 
House of Representatives from 1772 to 1775; and was the first to propose, in the 
Provincial Congress, a law for the encouragement of fitting out armed vessels, and the 
establishment of a Court of Admiralty. He was a delegate to the Continental 
Congress from 1776 to 1780 and from 1783 to 1785; a member of the convention 
for framing the Constitution in 1787, but was one of those who refused to sign it, 
on the ground that too great powers were delegated to the national government ; 
and a representative in Congress from 1789 to 1793. In 1797 he was appointed an 
envoy to France with Pinckney and Marshall, for the object of preserving peace. In 
1799 and 1801 he was the unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic party for 
governor of Massachusetts, but was elected in 1810, after a bitter struggle. He was 
defeated again in 1S12, and in the same year was chosen vice-president of the 
United States. 

[Born, Marblehead, Mass., 17 July, 1744. 

Died, Washington, 23 November, 1814.J 



108 American Antiquarian Society. 

11. Fast day. Went to Chh. twice. 

14. Judge Sedgwick & Lady and Tim y . Bigelow dined 
with me. Went to Church twice. 

15. Judge Sedgwick and Lady and several Gentlemen 
of the Bar dined with me. Blanchard began to work for 
me. 

16. Moses Thomas, visit. Mr. Sheldon went to Provi- 
dence 1 and his daughter came to live with us. 

17. Anne Sheldon went to School. 

19. Mrs. T. sat out for Boston, with Levi, by way of 

Lancaster. 

20. Supreme Court Ended. 

21. Judge Sedgwick and the Sollicitor General Judge 
Davis, 1 dined with me. Went to Chh. twice. 

22. Ploughed the field next the Garden. Peas up in 
the Garden. 

23. Went to bank. 

24. Ploughed the land next to the pasture. 

25. Elected a member of the Historical Society in 
Boston. 2 Harrowed the field. 



'Daniel Davis. began to practise law in Portland (then Falmouth) in 1782, and 
was successful at the bar. He was six years in the Souse ami six in the Senate 
of Massachusetts, ami from 1796 to 1801 was United States attorney for Maine. 
In 1800 he was appointed solicitor-general of Massachusetts, an office created 
expressly for him by Governor Strong, and held this position until 1SI52. lie re- 
moved to Boston in 1800, ami after 1832 lived in Cambridge. 

[Born, Barnstable, Mass., 8 May, 17f>2. Died, Cambridge, 27 October, 1835.] 

-In 1790, at the instigation of Rev. Jeremy Belknap, five men — Dr. Belknap, 
Rev. John Eliot, Rev. I'eter Thacher and William Tudor of Boston, and .lames 

Winthrop of Cambridge — met in Mr. Tudor's office, and planned the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, fin- the purpose of "collecting, preserving and communicating 
the antiquities of America." These men associated with themselves live others, 
each choosing one member: William Baylies of Dighton, Rev. .lames Freeman, 
George Richards Minot, James Sullivan and Thomas Walcutt of Boston; and on 
21 January, 1701, a majority of them met and organized the society, which, how- 
ever, was not incorporated until 1701. The membership at firs! was limited to 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 109 

27. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston in the carriage 
accompanied by Dr. Fiske. Fixed little Garden. 

28. Went to Church twice. 

May, 1811. 

1. Com ee . for building bridge met. Mr. Sheldon re- 
turned. 

2. Anson Whipple returned from Walpole. 

3. "Went with the town's Com ee . through a part of 
the Centre district to get the inhabitants to agree and 
engage to pay their highway tax in money, in order to 
build the bridge by the gaol. Bought another cow. 

4. Was engaged in the same business. 

5. Went to Church twice. 

6. Town chose 3 Representatives. 1 

7. Committee for building Bridge meet. Ploughed the 
field the second time. 

8. Flat stones continued on the walk to the Court 
house. Alarm of fire. Blacksmith's Shop by the Bridge. 
Again engaged in second ploughing. 

9. Mr. Sheldon went to Boylston. Got a quantity of 
Cotton yarn for me. 



twenty-five. The first officers were: James Sullivan, President; Thomas Walcutt, 
Recording Secretary; Jeremy Belknap, Corresponding Secretary; William Tudor, 
Treasurer; and John Eliot, Librarian. The first meetings were held in Judge 
Mi not "s office on Spring lane, but the use of a corner room in the attic of Faneuil 
Hall was soon obtained, and in 1791 the society removed to the Manufactory House, 
then occupied by the Massachusetts Hank, on Long Acre (Tremont) street, where 
Hamilton place now is. From 1793 to 1833 it had a room in the Tontine Crescent, 
on the south side of Franklin street. 

The collections of the society, which are now of inestimable value, were origi- 
nally published in a weekly periodical, called the American Apollo, but after nine 
months they were issued monthly ami then collected into volumes. After 1799 
they were published only in volumes, at intervals of about two years. 

1 Edward Bangs, Abraham Lincoln and William Eaton. 



110 American Antiquarian Society. 

10. Mr. Sheldon went in the Chaise to Thompson to 
get yarn weaved. 

11. Measured the ground and water for a new Bridge. 
Carted manure to the field both these days (10 & 11). 
Began planting. 

12. Mr. Nash dined with me, went to Chh. twice. Mr. 
Sheldon sent me a letter express to inform me his son 
Robert was sick, and I sent his daughter Anne to him by 
the messenger in a chaise. 

13. Contracted to build a new Bridge and open the 
Square by the goal in Worcester. Robert Sheldon died. 

14. Seymour Sheldon went to Thompson. 

15. Entered into partnership with Anson Whipple, in 
business at Walpole. A. Whipple had a fit. 

16. Anson Whipple went to Walpole to begin business. 
Agreed with Marah Chase to build Bridge Stone work. 

17. H. H. Cunningham of Montreal came to see me. 

18. H. H. Cunningham left Worcester. Mr. Sheldon 
& daughter returned from Thompson. My niece Rebecca 
Parker came to visit us with a Miss Gardner. Finished 
planting. 

19. Went to Church twice. Mr. Cotton 1 preached. 

20. Mrs. Parker returned to Harvard. 

21. Contracted to remove the hatter's shop, and an- 
other shop, to make room for the new bridge and to form 
the Square with Tim y Marshall for 150 dollars. 

23. Mrs. Thomas visited M r . Nash. 

24. Pd. 350 dols. for a pipe of Madeira Wine. 

25. Paid pari of my taxes. 

26. Went to Church twice. 



Rev. Ward Cotton, minister of the church in Boylston, 1797-1825. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. Ill 

27. Bought a pair of Oxen. Sat off with Mr. Wm. 

Sheldon, on a journey to New London — lodged at Can- 
terbury, Connecticut. 

28. Breakfasted at Windham — lodged at Newlondon. 

29. Left New London — lodged at Norwich. Mass. 
Election whole Legislative bodies democratic. 

30. Breakfasted at Preston, Jewet's city. Lodged at 
Johnson. 

31. Breakfasted and dined at Providence. Left Provi- 
dence. Great Fire at Newbury port. 1 

June, 1811. 

1. Lodged last evening at Smithfield. Visited the 
Cotton Manufactory this morning. Arrived home. 

2, Went to Church twice. 

5. Went to Boston in the Stage, 9 passengers. 

6. Attended meeting of Turnpike Corporation and 
directors. 

7. Dined with Mrs. Ewers. 

8. Dined with Mr. T. K. Thomas. 

9. Went to church 3 times at different places. Dined 
with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 

10. Met with the Grand Lodge. 

11. Met with the humane Society. Note due at the 
Bank. 

12. Returned to Worcester in the Coach, with Levi 
who came for me. Miss Calef accompanied me home. 

1 This fire, which was supposed to be incendiary, destroyed almost the entire 
business section of Newburyport. Nearly two hundred and fifty buildings were 
burned, and over ninety families rendered homeless, many being reduced from 
wealth to poverty. Among the buildings destroyed was that occupied by the 
bookstore of Thomas & Whipple. The fire was distinctly seen in Amherst, N. H., 
and in Attleboro, Mass., thirty miles the other side of Boston. 



112 American Antiquarian Society. 

13. My Grandson Isaiah greatly hurt by the fall of a 
ladder, had his collar bone broke. Began to draw stones 
for the new Bridge. 

14. Spent the Evening with Col. Clap, Judges Foster, 1 
Brigham, 2 &c. Mr. Win. Sheldon sat off for New y< irk. 

16. Went to Chh. 2. 

18. Attended at the Bank. 

19. Begun to build Wall at the bridge for Lincoln's 
shop to stand on. 

20. Pd. 200 dollars at the bank. 



1 Dwight Foster, the son of Jedediah and Dorothy Dwight Foster, of Brookfield, 
was graduated from Brown in 1774, at the age of seventeen, and studied law witli 
Joseph Hawley, in Northampton. After his admission to the bar. in 1780, he opened 
an office in Providence, but soon removed to Brookfield, where a better opportunity 
was offered to him to begin his professional life, as at that time lie was the only 
lawyer within a radius of twenty miles. In 1779 his father was chosen a delegate 
to the convention for framing the constitution, but died before that body met, 
and Dwight served in his stead. He was a member of both branches of the General 
Court, and of the Council of Massachusetts, and for ten years was chief justice of 
the Court of Common Pleas. In 1792 he was elected sheriff of Worcester County, 
and in the same year was an elector of President and Vice-President. He was 
a representative to Congress from 1793 to 1800, when he was chosen to fill the 
vacancy in the Senate caused by the resignation of Samuel Dexter. His term 
of service in Congress was during a period of great moment to the country, when 
the political parties were beginning to be formed on definite lines of policy. He 
was prominent among the leaders of the Federal party, and occasionally took 
part in the Congressional debates, his first speech being an attack on Madison's 
commercial resolutions in 1794. He retired from public life in 1S03. 

Judge Foster married, in 1783, Rebecca, daughter of Colonel Faulkner, of Acton. 
[Born, Brookfield, 7 December, 1757. Died, Brookfield, 29 April, 1823.] 

2 Elijah Brigham, of Westborough, was graduated from Dartmouth in 1778, and 
Studied law, but never practised, and \\a- engaged in mercantile pursuits for some 
years. He served in both branches of the General Court, twelve years a- senator; 
was two years a councillor, and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, from 1795 
until its abolition in 1811. He was a member of Congress from 1S11 to his death 
in L816. An earnest partisan, he was bitterly opposed to the War of 1M2, voting 

in Congress with the minority on all important questions, ami his name appear.-, 
upon the protest against the war. in June, L812. 
[Born, Northborough, 7 July. 1751. Died, Washington, 22 February, 1816.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 113 

21. "Workmen laid the N. W. Corner of the new bridge, 
on the Square. Charles went home to be Christened. 

23. Went to Chh. twice. 

24. Began to break up the Hill in the pasture. Charles 
returned. 

25. Laid the S. W. Corner of the Bridge. 

28. My Son returned from Burlington and Montreal. 
Mr. Carey from Philadelphia. 

29. Finished ploughing the hill in the pasture. My son 
went to Boston. 130 yards of cotton cloth returned from 
the Weavers. 

July, 1811. 

2. Began mowing. 

3. Sat off for Boston in the Coach with Levi at \ 
past 3 "Clock Morn 5 . 

4. Dined at Faneuil Hall. 

5. Miss Calef and Eliza went to Leominster. 

G. Went into water bottom of the Common, Boston. 
Do. Historical Library. Sent Levi home with the horses. 

7. Went to Christ Church morning and Stone Chapel 
afternoon. 

9. Walked over to Cambridgeport to Mr. Mycall's. 

10. Levi returned with the horses. 

11. Worcester Turnpike Corporation met. I attended. 
2 Cows strayed. 

12. Returned to Worcester, with my son's wife and my 
Grandson Isaiah in the Coach. 

13. Soper came here; tarried over night. 

14. Went to Church twice. Mr. Thayer preached. 

15. Eliza & Miss Calef returned. Went to Bank. 



114 American Antiquarian Society. 

17. Dismissed Levi Harry, who has lived with me 15 
years. 

18. Went to Bank. Blanchard worked for D r . Green. 1 



1 Dr. John Green the third, the son of John and Nancy Barber Green, was grad- 
uated from Brown in 1804, and studied medicine with his father, to whose large 
practice he succeeded in 1808. He never held any public office, but for nearly 
fifty years his time was devoted almost entirely to his professional duties, and 
there was no more familiar figure than his in Worcester and the surrounding country. 
"In village, town and county,'' says Judge Thomas ("Fire Society Reminiscences' ), 
"the name of Dr. John Green became a household word. For many years he was 
by general consent, at the head of his profession in the county. 

*** 

"Most of the present members will recollect Dr. Green, his slight and stooping 
figure, his striking intelligent face, his keen, observing eye, his quiet, simple, almost 
diffident manner. Not to have seen him as under that brown, broad-brimmed 
soft hat, he rolled from side to side in that old time-honored gig, through the streets 
of the village, town and city, was to have missed one of the most striking institu- 
tions of Worcester. To have seen him in the sickroom, when, seemingly failing 
to observe, nothing escaped his observation, when his calm, quiet manner, begat 
instant confidence and trust, when his instinctive sagacity seemed to probe the 
disease as with the keen edge of the lance, was a benediction." 

But it is as the founder of the Free Public Library that Dr. Green will be best 
known to posterity. He had early formed the purpose of devoting a liberal por- 
tion of his fortune for such an institution, and his library was selected with this 
object in view. His knowledge of books, as of medicine, seemed intuitive, and 
in their choice he relied on his own judgment, which was unfailing and marked 
by the utmost catholicity, never however losing sight of the fact that it was to 
be a public library and should be so constructed as to be of the greatest use to 
the public. His three objects in forming it seemed to be utility, variety and com- 
pleteness, and he looked for the books which were rare and not easily attainable, 
lest they could not be obtained in the future. At the time of its formal transfer 
to the city, 27 December, 1859, the library consisted of about seven thousand 
volumes. Before his death he added about five thousand more, and by his will 
left thirty thousand dollars for a separate fund, which, with future accumulations, 
was to be known as the "Green Library Fund.'' 

Dr. Green received the degree of M.l). from Harvard in 1815, and from Brown 
in 1826. Of the District Medical Society he was three years treasurer, seven libra- 
rian, five vice-president and seven president; vice-president of the American Medical 
Society in 1854; the first president of the Worcester County Horticultural Society; 
and a councillor of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Anti- 
quarian Society. 

Dr. Green married, in 1823, Dolly, daughter of David and Susannah Stone Curtis, 
of Worcester, whom he long survived. 

(Born, Worcester, 19 April, 1784. Died, Worcester, 17 October, 18C5.] 



Diary of Isaiah. Thomas. 115 

21. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Wilson preached. 

22. Large Company of Ladies. 

23. Went to the Bank. Walked with the young Ladies 
to the field. 

25. Blanchard worked for Dr. Fiske. 

26. My son's wife and my grandson returned to Boston 
in a Chaise with Blanchard. 

28. Blanchard returned from Boston in the Chaise with 
my son, and his daughter Caroline. 

31. Blanchard unwell — went home. 

Oxen were put to Win. Eaton's pasture the 13 th July, 
and taken from it on the 27 th of July. Eaton used them 
in getting in all his hay, &c. 

August, 1811. 

3. Removed Dr. Lincoln's large old Shop, back to the 
South, so as to widen the bridge nearly 100 feet, and by 
that means open the West side of the Square. 

4. Went to Chh. twice. A barn burnt by lightning 
in Holden. 

5. Charles Ewers 1 came from Boston. 



'Charles Ewer, the son of Captain Silas Ewer, an old sea captain of Boston, 
was apprenticed to Trott and Bumstead, dealers in English dry goods, for a time, 
and then entered the wholesale store of Pratt and Andrews. At the close of t he 
War of 1812 he purchased the bookstore of Isaiah Thomas. .Jr., in Newburyport, 
lmt business being in a depressed state, he soon went to Portsmouth, N. II On 
the death of his mother, in L816, he returned to Boston to care for his two sisters, 
and opened a bookstore at 51 Cornhill. Four years later, with Timothy Bedlington, 
he purchased the >tock of books of Thomas it Andrews; but this venture was not 
so successful as lie had anticipated, and involved him in financial embarrassments, 
which resulted in his failure in 1829. He then devoted himself to public improve- 
ments in Boston, and projected and carried out the development of t he property 
adjoining Washington and Avon streets, and of the South Cove. He was the origi- 
nator and firsl president of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 

rBorn, Boston, 1 September, 1790. 

Died, Portsmouth, N. H., 14 November, 1853.] 



116 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. Went to the Bank. 

9. My Son returned to Boston. I was informed 
confidentially from one of the Council that I should be 
appointed a .Justice of the Court of Sessions provided it 
would he agreeable to me, &c. 

11. Mr. Holcomb preached. 

13. Went to the bank. Signed for twenty Shares in 
the new bank. 

15. Work at the bridge renewed. 

16. Russell came to work. 

IS. Mr. Holcomb of Sterling preached. Went to dm. 

twice. 

11). Mrs. Thomas went in Coach to Lancaster accom- 
panied by Charles Ewers — driven by my boy Charles. 

20. Mrs. Thomas returned, accompanied by Miss Re- 
becca Armstrong, and by my brother's wife and Charles 
Ewers, who came in a chaise. Went to the Bank. No 
discount. 

22. My brother's wife returned, accompanied by Charles 
Ewers. Miss Calef left us to go to Boston, with a Mr. 
Loring in a Chaise, by way of Leominster. Had Mrs. 
Green's Cattle all day. 

2.']. Do half a day. 

25. Mr. Nash preached. 

26. Unwell. Went to bank. No discount. Eliza went 
to Boston. 

28. 6 days ploughing & harrowing. 

29. Paid and dismissed .John Russell. 

'4\. Went with Miss Rebecca Armstrong to Jamaica 
Plains, with Levi. Lodged at Mr. John Andrews. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 117 

September, 181 1. 

1. Yesterday sat out to go as far as Westboro' with 
Miss R. Armstrong; but unexpectedly went to Boston. 

5. Attended meeting of the Directors, of Turnpike. 
Blanchard returned. 

6. Returned to Worcester accompanied by I. T. 1 and 
\Y. Andrews, 2 sons of E.T.Andrews and Wm. Andrews, 3 
son of Wm. 

8. Went to Chh. twice. 

10. The young Gentlemen on a visit to me went to 
Long Pond to catch Fish. Levi Harry returned. 

13. Comet has made its appearance morning and even- 
ing for a month past. 4 

15. Went to S°. Church. Sent Olive home by 

Levi. 

1.6. The Comet which has made its appearance morning 
& evening for several weeks past appears more luminous 
in the evening than it has done hitherto. Its place in the 



1 Isaiah Thomas Andrews was graduated from Harvard in 1812, and died in 1S19. 

- William Turell Andrews was graduated from Harvard in 1812, and studied 
law, but practised for a short time only. He was fond of retirement and study, 
and devoted much of his time to reading the classics. He served six years in the 
General Court, was treasurer of Harvard College from 1853 to 1S.57 and held many 
local offices of trust. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts 
and Sciences. Mr. Andrews married, in 1821, a daughter of Edward Reynolds, 
of Boston. 

[Born, Boston, 24 December, 1794. Died, Boston, 24 November, 1879.] 

3 William Stutson Andrews was graduated from Harvard in 1812, studied law 
at the Litchfield School, and with Francis Blake in Worcester, and after his ad- 
mission to the bar in 1815; settled in Maine, but in the following year removed 
to Spencer, Mass. In 1818 he opened a bookstore in Worcester, and for a few 
months edited the Massachusetts Spy, and four years later was in business in Boston 
for a short time. He died in 1872. 

4 This comet, noted as being the first of the three most brilliant comets which 
appeared in the nineteenth century, was discovered by Flaugerques at Viviers, 
26 March, 1811, and remained visible until August, 1812. Its period was calcu- 
lated to be about three thousand years. 



lis American Antiquarian Society. 

Evening is in the N. W. near the Clever, 1 and sets about 
9 °Clock. 

17. The Eclipse this day was very visible, the weather 
being fair. 

IS. The two Wm. Andrews went to Boston. My Son 
and his wife came from Boston. Missionary Lecture. 

19. My Son and his wife returned to Boston. Began 
to take up the old Bridge — raised an Addition to my 
Stable — got in 27 bushels of Potatoes. 

20. Isaiah Thomas Andrews, and my Grandaugbter 
Caroline returned to Boston. 

22. Went to Church twice. 

24. My son and his daughter Caroline came from Boston 

25. Judge Sedgwick and Lady and other Company to 
dinner. Mrs. Waldo died. 2 

27. Comet appeared very brilliant at 4 "Clock this 
morning. 

• 28. Mrs. Waldo buried. 

29. Went to Chh. twice. 

30. Began to build the Arch at the head of the Bridge. 

October, 1811. 

2. I was again chosen a Director of Worcester Bank 

3. Began a Journey to Walpole in Newhampshire 
Lodged in Templeton at French's. 

4. Lodged in Surry, at Ilolbrooks. 

5. Arrived at Walpole and breakfasted. Took lodg- 
ings with Southard, opposite to my Store. Supreme Court 
sal a fortnight. 

'This was probably a local name for the Ursa Major. 
■ Mrs. Daniel Waldo, Son. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 119 

6. Dined with Gen. Allen. Went to meeting. 

8. Went in a Chaise with Roger Vose, Esq 1 ", to Charles- 
town, N. H. to See Mr. Redington's Land — Crossed Connect 
River into Vermont. Called on Mr. F. C. Geyer. Dined 
at Charlestown. Returned to Walpole. 

9. At 2 "Clock p. m. at out on my return home. 
Lodged at Keene. 

10. Lodged at Mrs. Legate's, Leominster. 

11. Breakfasted with Moses Thomas in Sterling arrived 
at Worcester at noon. 

13. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Allen of Bolton 1 preached 
and dined with me. 

14. Anson Whipple went to Boston. 

17. Court of Sessions ended. My horse and Chaise 
went to Boston. Geo. Trumbull 2 carried down a nurse. 



1 Rev. Isaac Allen, minister of the church in Bolton, 1804-1843. 

2 George Augustus Trumbull, the only child of Joseph and Elizabeth Paine Trum- 
bull, came to Worcester with his parents about the year 1803, and in April, 1813. 
bought the bookstore of Isaiah Thomas, Jr., "two doors north of Col. Sikes' Inn." 
(Exchange Hotel.) He later removed to the old Thomas store on Court Hill, 
where he remained until August, 1823, when he was succeeded by Clarendon Harris. 
From 1819 to 1823 he published the Massachusetts Spy in partnership with William 
Manning. In October, 1822, Mr. Trumbull and Samuel Ward, under the heading 
"STRONG BEER," inform the public "that a BREWERY is now erecting in 
Worcester, and will go into operation this season. — As the expense will be very 
considerable, and the Subscribers determine not to offer any Beer for sale, but 
of the first quality, the good people of this County particularly are requested to 
patronize this Establishment." The brewery was a large building at the corner 
of Grafton and Water streets, and was capable of making yearly three thousand 
barrels of beer or ale. 31 December, 1828, Mr. Trumbull became the sole pro- 
prietor, and in the following October sold the property to Simeon Burt. 

Mr. Trumbull was the cashier of the Central Bank from its incorporation in 
1829 to 1836, when he resigned to become the first cashier of the Citizens Bank, 
a position he held until 1858. 

He married, 20 September, 1815, Louisa, daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Stone 
Clap, of Greenfield, Mass. 

[Born, Petersham, 23 July, 1792. Died, Worcester, 17 August, 1868.] 



120 American Antiquarian Society. 

19. Mrs. Paine, widow of the late Hon. Tim y . Pains- 1 
died. A. Whipple returned to Walpole. 

23. Attended the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Paine, aged 86, 
widow of the late Hon. Tim y . Paine, as a Pall holder. 



'Sarah, the daughter of John ami Hannah Gardiner Chandler, was born "Jan. 
11, 1725-G at 8 o'clock morning," and was married to Timothy Paine in 17-19. 
Mr. Paine was graduated from Harvard in 174S, and immediately entered the 
public service. He was clerk of the courts from 1751 to 1774; register of probate 
from 1757 to 1767: register of deeds from 1761 to 1775; member of the Kxeeutive 
Council of the Province from 1766 to 1773; selectman from 1753 to 1763, and 
from 1766 to 1775; town clerk from 1754 to 17(14 ; and representative from 
1755 to 1757, 1759, 1762, 1788 and 1789. 

In 1774, on his receiving a commission as one of His Majesty s Mandamus Coun- 
cillors, the people were determined to prevent him from serving, and the Committee 
of Correspondence summoned the friends of liberty in the neighboring towns to 
appear in Worcester. Early in the morning of 22 August companies, which with 
the citizens of Worcester numbered more than three thousand, marched into town 
in military order, but without arms, and formed in lines on the Common. A 
committee, consisting of two or three from each company, waited on Mr. Paine, 
and demanded his resignation, and he readily complied. While this was considered 
satisfactory, the people required Mr. Paine's presence to confirm it, and he was 
compelled to walk through the ranks, which now lined both sides of the street 
from the Court House to the <>hl South Church, and to hear his acknowledgment 
read at different places, as they passed along. 

Madame Paine, as she was always called, was as ardent a Tory as her husband, 
and is spoken of as a woman nf uncommon energy and acuteness, and noted for 
her zeal in defending the Royalist cause. She would suffer no indignity to the 
King in her presence, and many stories are told of her wit and repartee on trying 
OCCS ions. At one time, when the Court and Bar were dining with them, Mr. 
Paine proposed as a toast "The King.'' Some of the Whigs were about to refuse 
to drink it, when John Adams, who was one of t he guests, whispered to them to 
comply, saying they would soon have an opportunity to return the compliment. 
When Mr. Adams's turn came he gave as his toast "The Devil." As Mr. Paine 
«:i^ about to re-ent this insult his wife calmed him. and immediately exclaimed, 
"My deal! As t he gentleman has been so kind as to drink to our King, let Us by 

no means refuse, in our turn, to drink to his." 

The 1'aines Lived, until a short time before the Revolution, in the house which 
is still standing at the lower part of Lincoln street, in the door of which Madame 
Paine is said to have stood, when the Whig soldiers came to seize her husband, 
Baying that they should 1 1 • ■ t enter i he huii-e. excepl o\ er her prostrate bods'. They 
then removed to "The Oaks," which ha8 been occupied by their descendants to 

t he present t ime. 



Diary of Tsaiah Thomas. 121 

24. Paid Misses Waldo 1 interest for 6 months on note 
for 666 dols due in November. 

26. Mrs. Seaver visit. Finished Stone arch at the head 
of the Bridge. 

27. Went to Chh. twice. 

29. Went to the hank. 

30. Mrs. Seaver went home. A number of persons 
turned out and employed 12 teams in carting gravel on 
the bridge, and to help in filling up the Square formed 
by taking the sides of the brook. They carted 317 loads — 
My Computation is that 2200 loads of Earth, 20 square 
feet to a load, are necessary to level the Square 1 — about 
1200 loads have now been carted — and I think 100[0j 
more to complete the work. 

31. Appraised Mr. and Mrs. Waldo's Estates. 

November, 1811. 

3. Neither of the Churches were opened today; both 
ministers .being absent. 

5. A number of persons, with 10 teams, volunteered 
in filling up the ground, near the bridge — carted in 270 
loads. Dismissed Levi. 

S. This day the workmen completed laying the cover- 
ing Stones of the bridge. 



1 Elizabeth Waldo. 

[Born, Boston, 24 November, 1765. Died, Worcester, 28 August, 1845.] 

Sarah Waldo. 

[Bom, Ho>ton, 22 February, 1767. Died, Worcester, 19 March, 1851.] 

Rebecca Waldo. 

[Born, Boston, 22 September, 1771. Died, Worcester, 10 .June, 1840.] 

They were the daughters of Daniel and Rebecca Salisbury Waldo, and after the 
death of Mrs. Waldo, lived with t heir brother. The three were admitted to the 
old South Church, Boston, from the First Church, Worcester, 28 March, L819, 
and were dismissed 19 February, 1830, to the Calviiiist or Centra] Church, Worcester. 
Sarah was the last surviving descendant in the line of Cornelius Waldo, to bear 
that name in this country. 



122 American Antiquarian Soviet;/. 

10. Mr. Goodrich 1 of Rutland preached. 

11. Mrs. Thomas went to Boston in Coachee and Mrs. 
Trumbull and my grand daughter Augusta went with her. 

12. Went to the Bank. 

14. Worked all day with my team and people at the 
bridge. Levi returned with the horses from Boston. 

15. Levi went to Boston with the Chariot empty. No 
work at the bridge this day. 

16. No work done at the bridge for three days past, 
excepting what I did personally and assisted by my team, 
man & boy, the 14 th & 16 th at gravelling & making a pas- 
sable road over the Bridge, &c. from the goal over to the 
circular wall. 

IS. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston with Eliza and 
my G. daughter Hannah, and a little girl from Dorchester 
to live with us. My brother came from Lancaster. 

19. Carted gravel again with my people at the Bridge, 
and some others who volunteered. My brother returned 
to Lancaster. 

21. Thanksgiving. 

22. Judge Sedgwick dined with me. 

23. Two or 3 hands only at work on the bridge, worked 
steadily all day, at the bridge as usual. Dismissed Levi 
again. 

24. Went to meeting twice. 

25. Attended at the Bridge. 

20. Attended all day ;it the Bridge. Attended at Bank. 

27. Finished covering over the bridge once with a 
small coal of Earth, and finighed filling up several of the 
Deep holes and miry places. 

1 Rev. Bezekiah Goodrich, minister of the church in Rutland from 17'.):! to his 
'loath. 7 February, 1812. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 123 

29. Laid the last stone at the Head of the Bridge. 

30. Attended Meeting at the Tanyard — Voted another 
assessment of 250 dollars on each Share. 

December, 1S11. 

3. Several teams at work on the bridge. 

5. Bought 70 bushs. Oats. Elizabeth Mary Thomas 
married this forenoon to Step". T. Soper, 1 by the Rev. 
l) r . Bancroft, and went the same day to Leominster. 

6. Began to put up the Iron Bailing on the Bridge. 

8. Went to Chh. twice. 

10. Bought 20 acres of Land, adjoining my house, Arc. 
in Westboylston, price 57.5 dollars — 6 months credit. 
Attended at Bank. 

12. Put down 2 Stone Posts at the head of the Bridge 

13. Began to put up the Iron Railing at the head of 
the Bridge. Was officially informed that I was unani- 
mously rechosen a Director of the Worcester Turnpike 
Corporation. 

15. Did not go to Chh. 

17. I. Thomas, jun r . came from Boston — borrowed 400 
dollars at bank — rec d . 500 from Boston. 

IS. Note 400 dollars at bank. 

19. Settled with Marah Chase and paid him for the 
stone work done at the Bridge 804 dollars. 

21. Horses corked. 

23. Sent Eliza's goods to Boston. 

24. Snow violent Storm all day & night. Did not go 
to the Bank. 



'Mr. Soper at this time kept a livery stable on Milk street, in Boston. 



1:24 American Antiquarian Society. 

25. Ceased to Snow, but the roads are blocked up. 
Mails impeded. My Son returned to Boston. 

26. Roads very much blocked up. No mail, diaries 
met with the people of his color at a dance &c. 

27. No mail arrived since Monday evening, till this 
Evening either southward or eastward. — Recommenced 
taking a Catalogue of my Library. Let out the uncleared 
part of the Land behind the hill, to be cleared, ploughed 
and sowed — Wheeler and Howe who clear it, to have the 
wood, and I am to find seed, and to pay them four dollars 
per acre for all they plough and sow. The agreement is 
lodged in the Office of the Registry of Deeds in the Care 
of Theophilus Wheeler, 1 Esq. 

28. Attended at Bank this afternoon. 

29. Went to Chh. twice. 

30. Rode with Judge Paine 8 miles on the Turnpike. 

31. Attended at the Bank, and afterward with the 
Tanyard Company. 

1 Theophilus Wheeler, the son of Rev. Joseph and Mary Greenleaf Wheeler, of 
Harvard, Mass., removed to Worcester with his parents at the age of seventeen, 
and was a clerk in the office of his father, who was then register of probate. After 
the latter's death in 1793, he succeeded him, and held the office until 1836. lie 
was town clerk from 17S7 to 1792; town treasurer in 1799 and 1800; overseer of 
schools in 1823, and of the House of Correction in 1X2G. He was one of the first 
directors of the Worcester Hank, serving in that capacity for eighteen years, and 
the firs! treasurer of the Worcester Agricultural Society. 

Mr. Wheeler Lived in the house built by his father, north of the Exchange Hotel. 
lle married, 1 April, 179(1. Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary I.emmon I.ynde. 

[Born, Harvard. 22 December, 17(>4. Died, Worcester, 11 August, LS40.] 







1 S 1 1 . 














Eliza, toward her quar- 




June 


1. 


Do., 






2.00 




ter beginning in April, 


.-..on 




9. 


Do.. 






25.00 


March 


Do. 


27.00 






My brot her 






12.00 


April 


My brother, 


(i.OII 


July 


s. 


M. Burns 


u 


t wice. 


13.00 


Hi. 


My Neice. Mrs. Parker, 


12.0(1 






Ch. sundry 


t imes, 


5.00 




My Neice, Mrs. Hall, 


25.00 






Eliza, 






5.00 




< lharity at twice, 


50.00 


Aug. 


15. 


Do., 






10.00 


May 


Do. 
Do., 


1 10.00 
10.00 






( lharity, 
M. Burns, 






13.00 

1.00 


19. 


Mrs. Parker, 


6.00 




19. 


Eliza, 






(10.00 




( lharity, 


.-,.00 


Sept, 


•_> 


Do., 






50.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



1 25 



January, 1812. 

1. Had a very unpleasant Journey to Boston in the 
Stage on account of the heavy rain. Went in a Sleigh 
as far as Westown, then took Coach. Stuck fast in Snow- 
drifts 6 times and had to have the Carriage dug out. Got 
wet through all my clothes. Attended Turnpike Directors 
meeting. 

2. Attended Turnpike Directors meeting. Also Asso- 
ciation for 'Washington's Monument — had travelling — no 
mail. 

3. Went to the Theatre. Celebrated Cooke 1 performed 



'George Frederick Cooke, a celebrated English actor, began his professional 
career as a member of a company of itinerant actors, and acquired so much fame 
in York, Manchester, Liverpool and other places that in 1791 he was engaged by 
the manager of the Dublin Theatre for a year. His season there was so successful 
that he returned in 1797, and remained for three years. J 1 is appearance 
at Covent Garden in the autumn of 1800, in the character of Richard III., imme- 
diately established his reputation as an actor, and he took the parts of Iago, Macbeth, 
Shylock, Sir Giles Overreach, Sir Pertinax Macsycophant ami others, with equal 
success. A sort of rivalry grew up between him and John Philip Kemble, who 
was then playing at Drury Lane, and their comparative merits in the character 
of Kichard III. caused considerable literary controversy. They later appeared 
together at Covent Garden. Cooke's intemperate habits, however, ultimately 
destroyed his popularity, and he formed a theatrical engagement in the United 
States, where for a time he displayed the same powerful abilities. But t he same 
weakness again impaired his powers, and hastened his death, which occurred 25 
March, 1812. 



Sept 


2 


Charity, 


30.00 


Nov 


6. 


Rebecca Parker, 


15.00 




14. 


My brother, 

Anne Sheldon, at twice 


0.(10 
3.00 






Mary Ball, cash, 
Househ. goods to Marj 


20.00 




20. 


Do., 
M. B. in books, 


3.50 

1.50 






Ball, 

Mary Hall s Board to T. 


(15.00 


Oct. 


10. 


Anne Sheldon, goods, 


4.50 






Whiting, 


OS. 10 






Charity, 


Ki.iki 




19. 


My brother cash, 


10.00 






Mary B., 


7.00 






Do. Almanac-. 


5.1 III 






Isaiah Thomas, 3d., sent 








Mary Burns 6 /- Books 


3.00 






him, 


.-,(l.(i(l 




24. 


Paid M. B. board, 


12.00 






Frazier, 


3.00 


Dec. 


6. 


Eliza, 


452.00 






Mary P., at i« ice, 


2.00 






M. B., 


1.00 




26. 


Mary B.. books & cash 


2.50 




13. 


Do. & her board, 


7. SO 






Ch., 


5.00 




20. 


Charity, 


3.00 




27. 


Paid M. B's. board, at 
twice, 


6.00 




26. 


Eliza, 


1(11). III! 



126 American Antiquarian Society. 

MacSycophant in the Man of the world. The travelling 
was so bad yesterday that both the Washington Monu- 
ment Society, and the Turnpike directors meeting were 
adjourned, not being members sufficient to make a quorum. 

4. Got dividend at the Union bank and interest at 
the loan office 78 dols. Went to Historical Library — 
took out 2 books for which I receipted. My Man, Blan- 
chard, came from Worcester. 

5. AVent to Christ Chh. in the morning — in the after- 
noon to Dr. LathropV Chh. Mr. English preached. Sent 
home booby hut sleigh by Blanchard. 

6. Went to Theatre. Cooke performed Falstaff in K. 
Henry 4 th . 

7. Returned to Worcester in the Stage. Mrs. Van 
Schaick passenger as far as Franiingham. 

S. Attended Library Coy annual meeting. Rechosen 
unanimously a Director, and Librarian. My week to 
attend the Worcester Bank as Director. 

9. Our housekeeper Frazier unwell for several days 
past. My son went to Burlington, Vermont. 

10, 11. Employed on the Catalogue of Books printed 
before the Revolution. 2 



1 Rev. John Lathxop, the minister of the Second or Old North Church, the pulpil 
mi the Mathers, from 1708 to 1816. 

- Mi. Thomas had intended to make tin- catalogue of honks printed in the English 
colonies previous to the Revolution a part of the "History of Printing," bul find- 
ing thai it would enlarge that work to another volume, its publication was deferred, 
and it was never finished by him. He left to the American Antiquarian Society 
several memorandum hooks ami a number of loose sheets containing the titles 
of books, collected mainly from newspapers ami catalogues, which he hail attempted 
to arrange alphabetically under their places of publication, "the result," a- he 
"of many months research." 

Before the breaking oul of the Civil War, the work of copying and re-arranging 
these ti'l'-. and the addition of others was undertaken by Dr. Samuel Foster Haven, 
Jr., who completed a rani catalogue of them. Before it was made ready for pub- 
lication, bowever, Or. Haven enlisted in the loth Massachusetts regiment, and 
was killed at the battle oi Fredericksburg. Tins oatalogue as left by him, without 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 127 

12. Went to Ch. twice. Mrs. Putnam 1 dined with us. 

13. Proposed to the Rev. Dr. Bancroft and Dr. Oliver 
Fiske the establishment of a Society by the name of the 
Antiquarian Society. 

14. Attend meeting at Bank. 

19. Snow storm. Windy and cold. No meeting on 
account of the weather. 

20. Had a hogshead of Cyder frozen. Several articles 
frozen in the cellar — more so than for several years past. 

23. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit. My son went to 
Burlington, Vermont, the 9 th inst and returned here this 
clay, via of Albany, and brought me a Saddle of Venison — 
Another Saddle of Venison I bought yesterday. Dr. Sim- 
mons arrived this Evening from St. Albans. 

25. Spent the day very disagreeably with Dr. Simmons 
and a Mr. Blake who brought Simmons here. Hired Blake 
to take Simmons home again. They sat off this Evening. 
Simmons lost his pocket case of Chirurgical Instruments. 
This Foolish Journey cost me 53 dollars to no purpose. 
Mrs. Thomas has the Rhumatism for several days past. 
My Son and his Daughter Hannah returned to Boston in 
the Stage this morning. 

26. Went to Chh. twice. 

29. She kept her Chamber. Had a Physician and was 
bled. Mrs. Seaver went to Mr. Lincoln's. — Anne S. spent 
the Eveng. abroad. 



material alteration, forms apart of the second edition < if the "History of Print- 
ing" published by the Society in 1874. 

'Elizabeth, daughter of .John Chandler, the Refugee, and Dorothy Paine Chand- 
ler was married 2 December, 178G, to Kbenezer Putnam, of St. John, N. B., the 
son of James and Elizabeth Chandler Putnam, formerly of Worcester. After the 
death of Mr. Putnam, in 1798, she returned to Worcester and Lived with her sister, 
Mrs. John Stanton. 

[Born, Worcester, 20 February, 177(1. Died, Lancaster, 18 January, 1820.1 



128 



American Antiquarian Society. 



30. Mrs. T. kept her chamber. 

31. Do. Mrs. Seaver returned. A number of Gentle- 
men supped with me on Venison. Judge Paine, Judge 
Hangs, D r . Fiske and others — of both political parties. 
Mrs. Thomas still confined to her chamber. Rhumatism. 

February, 1812. 



2. Went to Chh. twice. Blanchard went to Sutton. 

3. Rev. Mr. Brown of Cincinnati, waited on me with 
a subscription paper for erecting a College, &c. in Ohio. 
Subscribed and paid $30.71. Mr. Xiegler came from 
Boston, and I signed a note in behalf of Turnpike Direc- 
tors, to Bank in Boston, 740 dols. Mrs. T. still confined 
to her Chamber with rhumatism. Blanchard returned. 

4. Signed a Note for my son, 600 dols. Worcester 
Bank. Bad travelling. 



Jany. 4. 



At Union bank, 
At Loan Office, 
Cash in pocket bonk. 
Rent of Jackson, 

Loan Worcester Bunk 



( a-h rec' 1 . 

D. 16. 

68.— 17. 

55.— 19. 

125.— 
247.50 

Cash paid away. 



Pierce hill, 9.00 

102 lb. Loaf Sugar, &c, 20.— 
1 box Raisins, 5. — 

Theal re t wice, 2. — 

New years (lifts in Cash, 10. — 
Paid Callender & Jen- 
kins, 20.— 
Slaw lure, &C. A: Flour, 19.50 



Mai ah Chase, 

Hank, Worcester, 

1 [orses, 

Mrs. Thomas 

Library < ' ., 

< \ •■! pedia, 

Shingles, 

Post office bill, 

Mrs. L. 

Paid Geer A: others 



200.— 

87.50 

2.— 

7.— 

1.— 

42 — 

11.— 

7. 13 

28.— 

6.— 



16. 



2:;. 



30. 



Store, 9.50 

Do, 4.— 

Rent of Miss Doane, 137.50 
Of Thomas & Andrews, 500. — 



Paid towards Carts, 15. — 
Paid Curtis towards do. 28. — 

Allen (Sam.), 2.50 

Mrs. Thomas. 5. — 

Sundries house, 4. — 

M. h> board, 1.— 

Paid A. Wilder & Co. 

Tan yard, 150. — 

Venison, 3.50 

Mrs. Thomas, 35. — 

Paid Bank, 308. - 

M. lis board, 4 1). 

M. B., 1.— 

Simmons and Mrs. 

Simmons, 57.50 

Lanyard, 100.— 

Sundries, 5. — 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 129 

G. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit. 

8. Mrs. T. came down Stairs for half an hour. Great 
Freshet, threw down Part of the stone Wall under the 
Hatter's Shop at the Bridge. The last fall and the winter 
thus far has been remarkable for a Comet of magnitude, 
Storms and Earthquakes. 

9. Went to Chh. twice. Had a Supper of Veni- 
son; Judge Heywood, 1 Levi Lincoln, Jun r . Mr. Sted- 
nian, Rev. D r . Bancroft, Dr. Paine, Mr. Burnside, 2 



1 Benjamin Heywood, the son of Phinehas Heywood, of Shrewsbury, after serv- 
ing an apprenticeship to a housewright, began business as a carpenter, but relin- 
quishing this in two or three years, he prepared for college, and entered Harvard 
in 1771. As ensign of the Marti-Mercurian band of students, he took part in (he 
battle of Lexington, after which the senior class did not return to Cambridge, al- 
though they received their degrees. He immediately enlisted, was promoted to 
the rank of captain in 1776, and was soon appointed paymaster to Colonel Nixon's 
regiment. He served through the Revolution, and when at its close a serious revolt 
of the soldiers was feared, on account, of the inability of Congress to pay them, 
he was one of a committee appointed by Washington to consider and recommend 
the proper measures to be taken; and later was on the committee to adjust the 
accounts of the officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts line. After the army 
was disbanded, he was retained for some months in the office of the general super- 
intendent. He then returned to Shrewsbury, but in a few years removed to Worces- 
ter and purchased a large farm, a portion of which is still in the possession of his 
descendants. 

From 1802 to 1811 Mr. Heywood was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 
being the last judge of any of the higher courts of the county who was not educated 
for the legal profession; was twice an elector of President and Vice-President ; 
was for many years an acting magistrate of the county; and a trustee of Leicester 
Academy. Mr. Heywood married Mehitable, daughter of Elisha Goddard, of 
Sutton. 

[Born, Shrewsbury, 25 October, 1740. Died, Worcester, 6 December, 1816.] 

- Samuel MacGregor Burnside, the son of Thomas Burnside, of Northumber- 
land, N. H., a frontiersman who had served in the French and Indian wars and 
the Revolution, received his early education in the common schools of New Hamp- 
shire, and was graduated from Dartmouth in 1805. For two years he was the 
preceptor of a female academy in Andover, Mass., and then studied law with Arte- 
mas Ward, so long the chief justice of the Court of Common Plea.;, who was then 
practising in Charlestown. In 1810 he was admitted as an attorney of the Supreme 
9 



130 American Antiquarian Society. 

Mr. Coolidge and Mr. Maccarty, 1 spefft the Evening with 
me, 

13. Note due at the Bank. Dined with Mr. Stedman, 
and a Number of Gentlemen. 

14. Mrs. Putnam on a visit. My week at the Bank. 

16. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. Seaver left us. 

17. Attended at Bank this Eveng. 

18. Attended at Bank. 

20. Mrs. Seaver returned. Drank tea at Dr. Trum- 
bull's. 2 



Court without having, as was the usual rule, been previously sworn at the bar of 
the Common Pleas, and opened an office in Westborough in March of that year, 
but in the following September removed to Worcester. 

He was a well-read lawyer, and had a high reputation for learning, not only in 
his profession but in the classics and theology. He was also deeply interested 
in the common school question, was for many years a member of the school com- 
mittee and a trustee of Leicester Academy. He was closely identified with this 
society, being successively recording secretary, corresponding secretary, librarian. 
and a councillor from 1823 to 1850. 

Mr. Burnside married, 8 October, 1816, Sophia Dwigbt, daughter of Dwight 
and Rebecca Faulkner Foster, of Brookfield. 

[Born, Northumberland, N. IT.. 18 July, 1783. Died, Worcester, 25 July, 1850.] 

1 Nathaniel Maccarty, the twelfth child of Rev. Thaddeus and Mary Gatcomb 
Maccarty, was an apprentice to Mr. Thomas, and was for some time employed by him 
as a post rider between Worcester and Fitchburg. Having afterwards acquired 
a competent fortune as a trader in Petersham, he returned to Worcester, and lived 
in one of the stateliest, houses in the town, where Brinley Hall later stood. 

His first wife was Mary Cook, who died 13 January, 1821, and he is said to 
have felt her death extremely, for he said, " he never expected to find any one 
again who would out down his winter's pork to suit him as she had dene." lie 
married a second time, 8 May, 1822, Rebecca, daughter of Henry Smith, of Boston. 
Mr. Maccarty was for some years the treasurer of the American Antiquarian Society. 

[Born, Worcester, 10 July, 1758. Died, Worcester, 14 October, 1831.] 

2 Joseph Trumbull, the son of Joseph ami < >l>edience Belden Trumbull, of Suffield, 
Conn., came t<> Worcester in June, 1778, and opened a store for general merchan- 
dise, a little north of the jail, which then stood at the lower end of Lincoln street. 
In December, 1779, he bought of Levi Shepard and Ebenezer Hunt, for five hun- 
dred pounds, "one naif of a Certain Apothecary Shop in Worcester, standing upon 
apart of a Lott formerly belonging to Luke Brown," and the land upon which 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 131 

21. Mrs. Putnam and Mrs. Seaver went home. 

22. Rec d . 500 dollars of the Co. at Boston. 

23. Went to Chh. twice. 



it stood, which had been conveyed to them and Dr. William Paine, in 1 773 : and 
in the Massachusetts Spy of 31 August, 1780, 

ISAIAH THOMAS, 

Begs leave to inform his good cuftomers and others, 
that, rinding the printing bufinefs, for want of pro- 
per encouragement, inadequate to his fupport; and 
the better to enable him to comply with the re- 
queft of many gentlemen in this county, that the 
prefs might ("till remain in this town ; he has (ex- 
clufive of the printing bufinefs aforefaid,) entered 
into a co-partnerfhip with Mr. Joseph Trum- 
bull, and they have opened the 

Old Medicinal Store, 

A little northward of the Court-Houfe, in Worcefter, 
Where they have for SALE, 

DRUGS and MEDICINES, 

Warranted genuine. Alfo, 

A FEW barrels of beft Weft-India 
and New- England RUM; choice Rock SALT; 
excellent Mufcovado Sugar, Coflee, Chocolate, fine and 
middling white THREAD, Writing Paper, Blank Deeds, 
Bonds, Juftices Writs and Sumuionfes; a few Books, 
Crooked Combs, &c. &c. 

£gp° Thofe who may please to favour them with 
their cuftom may depend upon the beft ufage, and 
their favours gratefully acknowledged by 

THOMAS and TRUMBULL. 

%* The NEWS-PAPERS, will be 

delivered out at faid Store every Thurfday, and 
I. Thomas, the Publifher affures the Public that he 
fhall continue to ufe his utmoft endeavours to make 
the Massachusetts Spy, worthy of perufal and 
Encouragement. 

Mr. Thomas retired from the firm in the spring of 1781. 9 December, 1783, 
Dr. Trumbull bought the other half of the shop, which had evidently been the 
share of Dr. Paine, of the committee for the sale of confiscated estates, for forty 
pounds; and in the following month conveyed the whole to Abraham Lincoln. 

After this he was a physician in Petersham for a number of years, and in 17M7-S 
and 1791-2, he was licensed as a retailer of spirituous liquors in that town, having 
been recommended by the selectmen a- ":i person of sober life and conversation, 
suitably qualified it provided for the exercise of such an employment, & firmly 
attached to the Constitution it Law- of this Commonwealth." lie seems however 
to have been in business in Worcester for- a portion of the time that he lived in 
Petersham, for in July, 1793, he "presents his respects to the Physicians, his for- 



132 



American Antiquarian Society. 



25. Paid Hank 406.67. Rec d . a Commission from the 
Governor & Council as an Associate Justice of the Court 
of Sessions for the County of Worcester. 

29. Attended meeting of the Tanyard Co. Bought five 
loads of hay this month. Team and men open Turnpike. 

March, 1812. 
1. No meeting at our Society, went to the other. 

3. Supped with a number of Gentlemen at M r . Nath'l 
Maccarty's. Mrs. Seaver dined. 

6. Frazier unwell for 2 days past. 

8. Went to Church twice. 

10. Attended at Bank. Mrs. Seaver came on a Visit. 



mer customers, and others, informs them that he has opened a Medicinal Store, 
near Mr. Heywood s Tavern [the Central Hotel, where the Bay State House 
now stands], in Worcester." 

About the year 1803, he returned to Worcester, and lived in the old ('cunt House, 
which had been removed from Court Hill, to what is now Trumbull square, at 
the head of Green street. 

In later life Dr. Trumbull was a victim of the gout, which confined him to his 
chair for seventeen years, and prevented him from engaging in active professional 
life. His marriage, 14 February, 1786, to Elizabeth, daughter of Timothy and 
Sarah Chandler Paine, was the first to take place in the Church of the Second 
Parish. 

[Born, Suffield, Conn., 12 October, 1756. Kid, Worcester, 2 March, 1824.1 



Feb*. 



Feb. 



Feb. 







Cash recd. 








1. 


( if Wm. Pice, 


41.00 




22. 


Of the l'ii. v . in Boston, 


500.00 




Of J.W. Lincoln, Interest 


, 12.00 






In Store, 


10.— 




Towards his Note, by 






27. 


In do., 


19.00 




note of mine. 


70.00 














Cash paid away. 






1. 


Sundries for family, 


3.50 




10. 


Family, 


1.00 


3. 


do., 


3.00 




12. 


Cyder it Honey, 


5.00 




Paid N. Baton, shoe bill 


, 3.70 




15. 


Charles lather, 


3.00 


4. 


Bank, 


(1.01 




IS. 


Family, 


1.00 


5. 


1 )a\ id Browne, interest , 


23.10 




24. 


Mrs. T, 


13.00 




Mats, 


L.05 






Paid Bank, 


400.67 


6. 


( Iranddaughter's Quar- 






27. 


D. .V- G. Richards, 


32.00 




terly Schooling, 


5.00 






Miller, 


5.00 




Doctoring horse, 


0.50 




29. 


Paid at the bank. 


42.07 




Meat, 


1.35 






Butcher, 


3.— 


8. 


Family. 


2.00 











Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 133 

.11. Justices of the Court of Sessions 1 and the Sheriff 2 
dined with me. Pruned Trees in the Orchard. 

13. Dined by Invitation with the Court of Sessions, &c. 

14. Mrs. Seaver returned home. Chosen on a Com- 
mittee with the Sheriff of the County to have the Gaol 3 
and Courthouse repaired &c. 

'Jonathan Davis, of Oxford, Chief Justice; Edmund Cushing, of Lunenburg; 
Joseph Adams, of Mendon ; and Timothy Whiting, of Lancaster. 

2 Moses White, of Rutland, who was appointed by Governor Gerry, in February, 
1812, upon the removal of Thomas Walter Ward, of Shrewsbury. Mr. Ward was 
reinstated by Governor Strong in the following June. 

1 In June, 17S4, the Court of Sessions appointed a committee to consider the 
expediency of building a new jail in Worcester; and in December, the clerk was 
directed to present a petition to the General Court, setting forth the insufficiency 
and unhealthfulness of the present jail, and "praying that Government would 
grant to said County for the use of a public Goal, that part of the estate lately be- 
longing to John Chandler, Ksq r . an Absentee, & which has lately been confiscated 
to the Commonwealth," the bounds being described as "beginning at Timothy 
Bigelow's corner by the County road near the brook, called Swift river." This 
petition was granted, and the sum of five hundred pounds was appropriated for 
the building. The court accepted a plan submitted by Levi Lincoln, who, with 
Joseph Allen and Samuel Bridge, formed the committee for procuring the neces- 
sary materials; and in March, 1786, Levi Lincoln, Joseph Allen, Samuel Bridge, 
Timothy Paine and Joseph Wheeler were appointed to superintend its construction. 
It was completed in the autumn of 1788, and was a "structure of massive granite" 
from Millstone hill, sixty-four by thirty-two feet, and three stories in height. It 
was a work of considerable importance for the time, and Morse's "American Ga- 
zetteer," in 1797, describes the public buildings of Worcester, as consisting of two 
congregational churches, a court house and a strong stone jail. 

Mr. Thomas says, in the Massachusetts Spy, of 4 September, 1788: "On Saturday 
last was completed the stone work of the new gaol in this town. This is judged 
to be at least the second stone building of consequence in this Commonwealth — 
none being thought superior except the Stone Chapel in Boston — that is built of 
hewn stone, the stone of this are mostly as they were taken from the quarry. The 
Committee who had the superintending of the building, merit the thanks of the 
county, for the care, attention, and great economy with which they have conducted 
the business — the master workman, Mr. John Parks, of Groton, has acquired great 
credit for the fidelity and ingenuity with which he has executed the work. The 
want of such a building has long been a cause of complaint, and the repairs of the 
old one were a constant bill of expense to the county. A great saving must be 
experienced from the new building, as, without some convulsion of Nature, it is 
not probable that it will need any repairs, excepting the roof, for two or three 
centuries. The benevolent heart has often been wounded at the sight of a number 
of our unfortunate brethren, whose lot it hath been to suffer confinement in the 



134 American Antiquarian Society. 

N. B. Did not attend the Court of Sessions as a Justice 
of that Court during its session this week. But dined 
with them yesterday, by invitation at Mower's Tavern: 
and drank Coffee with them at Levi Lincoln, jun r . 1 Esqs. 
and spent there the evening. 



old gaol, whore they experienced every inconvenience from the want of room, the 
stench of vaults, and confined air. Those hereafter, whose hard fortune may com- 
pel them to he dwellers in the new prison of this county, will not suffer such incon- 
veniences; — even the criminal prisoner is entitled to our humanity, and more so 
him, whose only fault may he, that he cannot comply with the demand of his creditor, 
when lie saith, 'pay me what thou owest.' —As by a late law of this Commonweal! h 
every county is obliged to provide a work house, the capaciousness of this building 
will answer also for that purpose, and prevent the county the expense of erecting 
one." 

The jail was at the easterly corner of Lincoln square and the present Union street, 
where the Court Mills later stood. The lower floor was for criminals, and was divided 
into four arches crosswise, forming four rooms; the second, divided in the same 
manner, but not arched, was for debtors who did not have "the liberty of the yard," 
and for prisoners for petty offences; and the third, which had an entry or walk 
from end to end, and contained eight rooms, was for the debtors who had the liberty 
of the jail yard. To the east of the jail, and separated from it by the yard, was 
the jailor's house, or "Jail Tavern," which was also the property of the county, 
ami described as a handsome well-finished building. This building in turn proving 
too small in a few years, in 1819 a house of correction was built on Summer street, 
a part of which was appropriated for the county jail, in April, 1S35. 

1 Levi Lincoln, the eldest son of Levi and Martha Waldo Lincoln, was graduated 
from Harvard in 1802, studied law in his fathers office, and was admitted to the 
bar of the Court of Common Pleas, in Worcester, in ISO."). After practising for 
the required term of two years in that court, he was admitted to the liar of t In- 
Supreme Judicial Court, as attorney, and two years later became a counsellor. His 
zeal and energy in his profession, and the skill and judgment with which he con- 
ducted his cases, placed him in a few years among the Leaders at the bar. 

1 Altering political life at an early age, his advance was rapid from I he first . I '< >m 
1812 to 1814 he was in the State Senate, and he had already become so well known, 
that immediately after his election, he was selected to prepare the usual formal 
answer to the speech of the governor, who had been elected by the federal party. 
From 1814 to 1822 inclusive, he represented Worcester in the General Court, with 
the exception of three years, in which he declined to serve, ami in the la-t year wa- 
its speaker, although the majority of thai body ami the governor were of the oppo- 
site party. When he entered the House he found himself in a minority, at a time 

when party excitement was perhaps more intense than ever before or since. A 
warm supporter of the administration in its measures which resulted in the war 
with Great Britain, he vigorously protested against the participation of Massa- 
chusetts in the Hartford Convention, in December, 1814, and was tin- author of 
the famous protest of the minority of (he House, Bigned by seventy six of its mem- 






Diary of Isaiah Thomas. J.35 

Received from Boston 1 gross of Junk Bottles. 
15. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Nash preached. 
17. AYent to the Bank. 

19. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde — Even g Visit. 

20. Measured the Ground in order to build a new Wall 
for the Gaol yard. 

22. AVent to Chh. twice. 



bers, which was published and circulated throughout the country, and gained for 
him a national reputation. When, on account of the separation of Maine from 
Massachusetts, in 1S20, it became necessary to amend or modify her constitution, 
Mr. Lincoln was a member of the convention called for that purpose, took an active 
part in its discussions, and proved himself an able debater, never hesitating to 
express and defend his opinions; and some of the wisest changes made in the state 
constitution were largely due to his liberal doctrines and measures. When William 
Eustis succeeded Governor Brooks, in 1823, Mr. Lincoln was chosen lieutenant- 
governor; and in February, 1824, Governor Eustis appointed him to the bench of 
the Supreme Court. In the re-formation of parties which took place after the 
election of John Quincy Adams to the presidency, Mr. Lincoln became the leader 
of the National Republicans, the organization which later became so renowned 
under the name of the Whig party; and on the death of Governor Eustis, in Febru- 
ary, 1825, the two parties in Massachusetts seem to have agreed to come together, 
and support some one man for the office. Mr. Lincoln declined to be a candidate 
on a Democratic nomination, because he was unwilling to stand in the way of the 
unanimous action of both parties; whereupon the Federal convention voted that 
it was inexpedient to make a party nomination, and upon a ballot for the office 
of governor, Mr. Lincoln received a unanimous vote, and at the ensuing election 
thirty-five thousand, out of thirty-seven thousand votes, were cast for him. 

He was governor of Massachusetts for nine years in succession, an unparalleled 
term in our history, and his administration was one of the most prosperous that 
the state has ever known, and one in which many important questions were brought 
forward. At its beginning the subject of internal communication between Boston 
and the Connecticut River was occupying much of the public attention. He took 
an active interest in these projects, and while favoring the advocates of a canal, 
to whom he had partially committed himself, he did not allow his own opinions to 
stand in the way of the railroad party; and in 1828 he was placed at the head of 
the newly created Board of Internal Improvements, under the advice and encourage- 
ment of which, a system of railroads was adopted. The betterment of the conditions 
then existing in the state prison; the reforms in the treatment and management 
of the prisoners, and the establishment of the system of separate confinement; the 
improvement in the care of the insane and the founding of a state lunatic hospital; 
popular education and the normal school system, — were among the reforms inaugu- 
rated during his term of office. He was also the first governor of the state to exercise 



13(5 American Antiquarian Society. 

23. Made a Calculation for the Court of Sessions for 
building a wall of Stone and brick round the Gaol yard — 
amount 950 dollars. My Son came from Boston. 

24. Moses Thomas — visit. 

25. M. Thomas returned home. 

27. Thermometer stood at 80 degrees in the Shade at 
noon. Supped with a number of Gentlemen with Erastus 
Howes, Esq 1 ". 1 Clerk of the Court. 



the right of veto, which had been given to the executive by the constitution of 1780. 
On his retirement in 1834, John Davis became governor of Massachusetts, and 
Governor Lincoln was elected to fll the vacancy in Congress caused by the resig- 
nation of Mr. Davis; and remained there by successive elections until 1841. When 
the Whigs came into power in the latter year, he succeeded George Bancroft as 
collector of the port of Boston, and his removal from this position by President 
Tyler, in the latter part of 1843, was the only time that he left an office involuntarily. 
For the next two years he was in the State Senate, and in 184.5 was its president. 
In 1848 he was chosen the first mayor of Worcester, which was the last public office 
he held. In 1824, 1848 and 1864 he was a member of the electoral college, anil 
in 1848 presided over that body. Governor Lincoln was also active in many 
societies and local institutions. He was greatly interested in agriculture, and was 
president of the Worcester Agricultural Society from 1824 to 1852; was one of 
the founders of the American Antiquarian Society, of which he was councillor from 
1817 to 1854 and vice-president from 1854 to 1868; a fellow of the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences; a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and of 
the board of overseers of Harvard College from 1825 to 1852. The degree of LL.D. 
was conferred on him by Williams in 1824, and by Harvard in ls2ti. Governor 
Lincoln married, 6 September, 1807, Penelope Window, daughter of William and 
Mary Chandler Sever. For a short time he lived in the Timothy Paine house on 
Lincoln street, then in the John Chandler house at Lincoln square, and removed 
to his new mansion on Main street, about the year 1813. In the early thirties, 
when the increasing growth of the town caused him to give this up, he built the 
present family mansion on Elm street, living for two years, until this was finished, 
in the house so long occupied by George W. Richardson, on the same street. 
(Born, Worcester, 25 October, 1782. Died. Worcester, 20 May, 1868 | 

1 Estes Howe was graduated from Dartmouth in 1800, and practised law in Sutton. 
In the fall of 1811, when Governor Gerry made a sweeping change in the court 
officials throughout the state, he was appointed to succeed William Stedman as 
clerk of the courts for Worcester County, but the latter was reinstated by Governor 
Strong in the following July. He then opened an office in Worcester for a short 
time, and was afterwards recorder of the city of Albany, where he died 2 January, 
I 826, at I lie age of forty live. 

In 1808, Mr. Howe delivered the Fourth of July oration in Worcester, and the 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



137 



30. Parish Meeting — chcsen Moderator — Meeting ad- 
journed till Monday 9 th of April. 

31. Mrs. Thomas fell from a Stepping Stool in the 
Cellar, and received considerable injury in her forehead 

and nose. Patch came to live with me. Have diligently 
worked for the last two months in making a Catalogue 
of my Private Library — it is nearly completed. 

April, 1812. 

1. My Son returned to Boston this morning. 

3. Blanchard's time out and he went home. 

4. William Andrews died in Boston. 

5. Mrs. Seaver came on a Visit. She and Eliza and 
Jane Bancroft dined with us. 

6. Sat out at 12 "Clock this day for Boston. This 
was the day for choosing Governor, &c. Did not vote 
Lodged at Eaton's, Framingham. 

7. Sat out for Westown at C] "Clock this morning- 



following notice of the celebration in the Massachusetts Spy would seem to indicate 
that he was rather changeable in his political views: — 

"The 32d Anniversary of AMERICAN INDEPENDENT, was celebrated in 
various parts of this State, on Monday last, with more than usual pomp -In this 
town the day was ushered in by the discharge of cannon and ringing of bells The 
Democrats formed a great procession of 'such as they were,' and had a very 'magnif- 
icent-' oration delivered by MAJOR HOW, who two years since delivered as 'mag- 
nificent' a FEDERAL one in Sutton. — Thus we go up! up! up 1 — and tints we go 
down! down! dovn!" 











Cash received 








March 




Store, 




9.50 


23 


From Thomas & Andrews 


500.— 




11. 


Do., 




L— 




From Miss Swords, 


38.— 




16. 


Borrowed, 




20.— 
Pa 


d. 


R 


ant, ballance, Boston, 


39.— 


March 


3. 


Mrs. Thomas, 
Judge Paine. 




s.oo 
31.00 






Pice. T teamster, 

Sundries, 


2.50 
2.00 


March 


7. 


Flaggs, Flour, 




12.50 




27. 


I lay. 


68.25 




If.. 


Paid ( leer, towards 






30. 


Mrs, Thomas, 


30. 






work at the Bri 


lge, 


20.00 




30. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


30.00 




24. 


Paid the Hank, 

Mrs. Thomas 




302.20 

25.00 






Paid money borrowed, 


20.00 



138 American Antiquarian Society. 

breakfasted at Westown arrived at Boston at noon. 
Stopped at Cambridgeport to see M r . Mycall. 

8. Mr. Wm. Andrews buried — very unpleasant weather. 
Attended the Funeral as a Relation. 

9. Fast day. Attended at the Chapel in the Fore- 
noon. M r . Freeman 1 preached. Went to Hollis Street 
Chh. in the afternoon — Mr. Holly 2 preached. Dined 
with Mr. Soper. 

11. Paid an Installment to State bank. 3 Paid 100 
dollars for a debt of a young Mechanic whom I had recom- 
mended to a Credit. Paid 68 dollars more where I had 
passed my word for him. Went to an old Library. Dined 
with Mr. Thayer — Merchant. 

12. Dined with E. T. Andrews — went to Chh. twice. 
Went to No. Chh. and in the Afternoon to Parson Thacher's. ' 
Drank Tea with Eliza. Spent the Evening at M r . An- 
drews's with Math w Cary of Philadelphia. 



1 Rev. James Freeman, minister of King's Chapel from 1782 to 1835. 

2 Rev. Thomas Holley, minister of Hollis Street Church from 1809 to 1818. 

3 After the re-election of Governor Gerry, in 1811. the Federalists wore socm made 
to feel thai the control of t lie state had passed into other hands; and one of the 
firsl acts of the General Court, now again Democratic in both branches, was to 
grant a charter to the "State Bank," the first bank in Massachusetts to be under 
the control of that party. It was to be the financial agent of the state, and thus 
offset the two banks already existing in Boston, which were conducted by the 
Federalists. The Federalists then offered to pay one hundred thousand dollars 
for a charter precisely similar, so the Democrats, to avoid the appearance of any- 
tliing underhand, laid an annual tax of one-half of one per cent, upon their hank, 
arid rechartered the other two, whose charters were about to expire. Although 
peace was restored in this way, great complaints were made of the unpatriot ic attitude 
..I the Boston capitalists and bankers during the war, which were probably not 

a :i lo .ut some foundai ion, 

The first president of the new hank was William Gray, who was lieutenant- 
governor during Governor Gerry s administration. It became a national bank in 
L865, and is still in existence, under the name of the State National Bank. 

' Rev, Samuel ('. Thacher. minister of the New Smith Church from 1S11 to 1818. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 139 

15. Sat out at 6 "Clock this morning for Worcester, 
and Rebecca Ewers and my Grand daughter Caroline. 

18. My brother came to see me. 

20. My brother returned home. Began this day to 
work in the Garden — planted Peas & Potatoes. 

21. Attended at the Bank. Nearly completed Cata- 
logue of my private Library, which has occupied most of 
my time for 3 months and more. 

22. Judge Sedgwick & Lady & Hon. Tim y . Bigelow 

dined with me. 

23. Moses Thomas, visit of 2 days. 

24. My Son came up from Boston. 

25. Attended with my son at Mr. Burnside's office, 
where a number of depositions were taken in the case of 
Eliot r. my son. 

26. Went once to Church. 

27. Took M r . Burnside and my son in my carriage 
and sat out for Windsor in Vermont. Lodged in Tem- 
plet on. 

28. Breakfasted in Winchendon. Lodged in Keene. 

29. Breakfasted in Keene. Roads very bad between 
Keene & Walpole — 5 hours going from Keene to Walpole. 
We walked half the way. Dined and all lodged in Wal- 
pole. Gen. Allen &c. called on me, also R. Vose, Esq r . 
who spent the Evening with us. 

30. Mr. Burnside and my Son went to Windsor (in a 
Chaise they hired in Walpole) to attend the Circuit Court. 
Francis Blake, 1 Esq. came on from Worcester and went 



'Francis Blake, the fifth son of Joseph and Deborah Smith Blake, was born in 
Rutland, in 1774. where his father, an old Boston merchant, was then engaged 
in business. In 1779. the family removed to Bingham, and he completed his prepa- 
ration for college under Rev. Joseph Thaxter, of thai place, at the age of eleven. 
He was graduated from Harvard in 17N9. studied law with Judge Sprague, of I. an- 



140 American Antiquarian Society. 

on to Windsor to attend the Court on behalf of my son, 
in his cause with James Elliot late Editor of the Spy for 
f) months. Could not eat dinner. Heavy fog in the 



caster, and after his admission to the bar in 1794, took the office lately occupied 
by William Caldwell, in Rutland. In 1801, when the new administration came 
into power, it was considered an important object to establish a press in Worcester 
County which should be friendly to the new order of things, and subscriptions 
amounting to about twelve hundred dollars were obtained from the politicians 
in the vicinity and in Boston, for the purchase of a press and printing materials, 
among those aiding the enterprise being Benjamin Austin, James Sullivan, James 
Prince, Jonathan L. Austin, Levi Lincoln, William Eustis and William Jarvis. 
In December of that year the National .F.uis was established, mainly through the 
efforts of Mr. Blake, who became its first editor, and removed to Worcester in the 
following year. Three years later he retired from journalism, to devote himself 
again to his professional duties. He afterwards abandoned the party whose prin- 
ciples he had so warmly and ably defended, and one of his few literary works which 
remain is a hitter and sarcastic attack on its policy, in his Fourth of July oration 
at Worcester, in 1812. 

His practice was large, and his success at the bar was mainly due to his eloquence 
in the courtroom, "where he won by his sweetness and commanded by his dignity; 
where his learning and logic convinced, where his wit and humor convulsed Bench, 
Bar and Jury; where his passion roused to indignation or melted into tears." His 
name is found in most of the Worcester cases from 1804 to 1810, and he was sure 
to be retained on one side in every important jury trial. 

In 1816 failing health compelled him to relinquish his practice, and on the res- 
ignation of William Stedman, as clerk of the courts, in that year, he was appointed 
to that position. His only political office was that of state senator from 1810 to 
1812 and from 1813 to 1815. 

In private life Mr. Blake is described as "charming," noted for his wit and humor 
in conversation, and his manner, peculiar to himself, though dignified. "Standing 
on Main street, some sixty years ago," says Judge Thomas, in 1872, "you might 
have -ecu passing along the middle of the way, for it was common then for gentle 
and simple to u<e I he middle of the street, a gentleman of somewhat more than 

medium height; of rather broad shoulders; of body and limbs well proportioned, 
supple and of easy movement, His gait is a little peculiar, for he treads on the 
right side of his right foot; but though somewhat easy and careless, it is dignified 
and graceful. With his hands clasped behind him and his head inclined slightly 

forward, he seems unconscious where he is, who is near him, or whither he is going. 
He looks as if his whole body thought. You see 1 ittle of the head but the queue of 
brown silky hair, tied at the collar of the coat with a ribbon, and hanging carelessly, 
■nine eight inches, upon his back. As you approach him he raise> his hat. and you 
see a forehead of ample height and breadth; large, bluish-gray eyes, somewhat 

deep in their sockets ami shaded by long lashes; a mouth large and expressive; 

t In' in ii-i-U's of Ins face extremely mobile and flexible, capable of changing in a breath 

from sunshine to cloud and from calm to storm. The general expression of the 



Dior// of Isaiah Thomas. 141 

night. Felt very dull. Spent the Evening alone. Had 
little or no appetite. Eat no dinner. — and very little 
breakfast or Supper. 

May, 1812. 

2. Having waited three days for M r . T. K. Thomas 
without seeing him went in the Stage to Windsor, Yt. 
Levi accompanied on Horseback. Dined in Windsor. 
Saw Mr. Blake and my son. Attended at the Circuit 
Court. Judge Livingston 1 &c. put up at the same house. 

3. Went to Chh. in the forenoon. Dined with Judge 
Livingston. 

4. Went to the Court house. Kept much within 
doors. Dined with Judge Livingston, Judge Payne, 2 Gen- 
eral Morris, 3 &c. 

5. Trial between Eliot & my son came on before the 
Circuit Court — Demurrer — Judge Livingston — Gen. Mor- 



eyes is gentle and mild rather than brilliant; hut when he speaks, and especially 
when he smiles, they kindle and glow with the light from within." 

Mr. Blake married, 14 December, 1794, Elizabeth Augusta, daughter of Gardiner 
and Elizabeth Huggles Chandler. He lived on the north corner of Main and Cen- 
trals t reels, and at the side of the house stood his office, while in the rear, terraced 
gardens extended down to the brook at the foot of the hill. 

[Born, Rutland, Mass., 14 October, 1774. Died, Worcester, 23 February, 1817.] 

1 Brockholst Livingston, a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 
from 1S06 to 1823. 

2 Elijah Paine, a justice of the United States District Court for Vermont from 
1801 to 1842. 

:l Lewis U. Morris, of Windsor, major-general of the first division, Vermont militia. 



150.00 
100.00 

18.0(1 

3.— 

ir Wood, 21.00 

1.00 

r,.(io 
3.40 
8.00 







Ca 


sh received 


April. 


2. 


At the Bank, 




381.00 




Stock Sold, 


3. 


For horse. 




.58.00 




Geo. Blake, 


11. 


Rent in Boston, 




125.00 
Cash 


17. 

paii 


In Store, 
1. 


2. 


Paid Jon* Rice for Hay 


D 


30.00 




Meat, 


11. 


Paid State bank 




400.00 


17. 


Tho> Barbel 




B. Andrews for Kimball. 




100.00 


18. 


M. B., 


13. 


Sundries in Huston, 




54.68 




Miller — boar 


16. 


White for Wood, 




37.34 


23. 


Levi, 




Mr. Waldo, 




100.00 




Frazer, 



1 t2 American Antiquarian Society. 

ris and sonic others. Spend the Evening in my room. 
Attended Court this day. 

6. Attended Court on the Trial between Eliot and 
my son. It lasted all day. Dined at ('apt. Dunham's. 
Genteel Company— Judge Paine and a number of the 
bar. Drank Tea at Mr. Leverett's 1 with a number — by 
the Invitation of Mr. [Ljeverett. Case given to Jury at 
Sun down. Jury sat up all night — did not agree. Cause 
submitted to Reference. They decided Eliot should have 
100 dols. damage instead of 5000 sued for, and each pay 
their own cost. 

7. Left Walpole at 4 °Clock Afternoon in a small 
carriage. Lodged at Charlestown. 

8. Left Charlestown early and Breakfasted at Wal- 
pole. 

9. Left Walpole with my son & M r . Burnside and 
breakfasted at Keene. Lodged at Winchendon. 

10. Left Winchendon at 5 "(lock this morning and 
went to Templeton to breakfast. Arrived at home at 
5 "Clock in the afternoon. 

11. Unwell. Took Physic. 

12. Attended at the Hank. 

13. Mrs. Thomas and my son went to Boston in the 
Stage this afternoon. 

14. Note at the Bank 900 dols. Pound tor Dr. Ather- 
ton of Lancaster for his having the Liberties of the prison. 2 

1 Thomas Leverett, of Windsor, secretary of the State of Vermont. 
\nart was passed bj the General Court, 21 February, 1785, to grant to prisoners 
ebt, relief from close confinement, and to enable them to have exerci 
fresb aii', without uivinK indulgences by which a fraudulent debtor could elude bis 
creditor-. The act provided that any person imprisoned for debt, upon Riving 
a bond, with sufficient sureties, to the creditor, of double 'lie amount for which 
he wa i. that he would not go beyond the liberties of the prison, and 

upon reasonable paymenl for chamber room, which was fixed annually by the 
Court ol Sessions, hut which could not exceed two shillings a week, might have 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 1 l;; 

17. Went to Chh. twice. 

19. Attended at the Bank. 

20. Levi went by way of Lancaster to Boston, and 
carried Miss Ewers to my brother's. 

23. Mrs. Thomas, my granddaughter Mary and her 
mother came from Boston. Attended at the tanyard. 

24. Went to Chh. twice. Rev. Mr. Nash preached 
and dined with me. 

26. Went to Boston in Coachee — my son's wife & Anne 
Sheldon went with me, and Levi. 

27. Election. The procession to the Old South Church 
did not move until 3 °Clock in the afternoon. Heard 1 



the "liberty of the yard." These limits were also determined by the Court of 
Sessions, which, however, had no power to extend them beyond the land of the 
county, with the highways adjoining or leading to the prison ; and if a debtor entered 
a private house or enclosure, it was an escape, and his bond was forfeited. 

The jail limits as fixed in August, 1790, were confined to that part of Lincoln square 
lying opposite the jail land, excluding the close yard around the building, and the 
prisoners were required to leave and enter the jail "through the avenue erected 
from the top of the fence to the front floor in the middle story." 

In 1808 they were enlarged so as to extend to Samuel Chandler's fence, on the 
easterly side of Summer street, along which the line ran southerly to the Second 
Parish Church, where it crossed the street, and continued to the schoolhouse near 
the corner of Thomas street. It then ran westerly to the brook and northerly by 
various lines to the northwest corner of the turnpike bridge. The northerly limit 
was at the Brown and Rut man tavern on Lincoln street, a few rods beyond Lincoln 
square. 

In September, 1817, on the petition of Mr. Thomas and others, they were again 
extended, so as to include the land between a line drawn easterly from the meeting- 
house and the Worcester Turnpike. 

1 "Election Day" was not, as its name would imply, the day on which the votes 
were actually cast, but was the beginning of the political year, when the General 
Court met and was organized. By the original Massachusetts charter it was to 
be held on "the last Wednesday in Easter terme yearely"; but by the provincial 
charter of 1691, it was changed to the last Wednesday in May, and the latter date 
was retained in the constitution of 17S0. 

It was one of the old New England holiday-, and the one day in the year on 
which persons of every degree, tongue and color had a full right to the liberties 
of Boston common; and from the fact that the black population were then allowed 
to buy gingerbread and drink beer there, with their white betters, it received the 



1 U American Antiquarian Society. 

the Election sermon delivered at the Old South. M 1 . 
Foster of Shirley preached. 

28. Went to view M r . Dearborn's new constructed 
printing press. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. 

29. Dined with Eliza (Mrs. Soper). Met Mrs. Dear- 
born who had been to see me at my son's. She requested 
me to walk with her — in order to inform me, confidentially 
of some things relative to her private concerns — her son, 
&c. — her object, I suppose to be pecuniary. Miss Weld 



sobriquet of "Nigger 'Lection," in distinction from Artillery election, which oc- 
curred on the first Monday in June. Not only the day itself, but the whole week 
was in a great measure given over to pleasure, and Boston was filled with strangers 
from all parts of the state. In colonial times this greatly scandalized the ministers, 
and Rev. Irian Oakes, of Cambridge, who preached the "Election sermon' in 
177:1, declared that it had become a time "to meet, to smoke, carouse and swagger 
and dishonor God with the greater bravery." 

"Anniversary Week". was another name given to this week, because since the 
charter of 1691, it had been chosen as the time for the country ministers to make 
their annual visit to Boston, to attend the "Massachusetts Convention of Con- 
gregational Ministers," an association formed to bring them together, mainly for 
a sermon, and for a charitable collection for the widows and orphans of its members. 
As they were mostly Harvard alumni, it became an occasion for social reunion, 
and the festivities were of no small importance. They and their families were 
hospitably entertained by the people of Boston, and on the day after Election day, 
a dinner was given to them by the Boston ministers, which was often honored by 
the presence of the governor and the officers of the General Court. 

After 1780, when the state constitution was adopted, on the assembling of the 
General Court, the members were qualified, the officers for the ensuing year elected, 
and a committee appointed to count the votes of the towns for governor and lieuten- 
ant-governor. Then the governor, accompanied by the General Court and the 
officers of the state, marched, under military escort, to some church which had 
been selected by htm, where the "Election sermon" was preached. 

From the early days of the colony a minister was annually appointed by the 
"Governor ami Assistants" to preach this sermon, and "on these occasions political 
■ iilniTi. are deemed very proper; but it is expected that they In 1 treated in a decent, 
~erious and instructive manner." The earliest was preached by Rev. John Cotton 
in 1634, and the first known to have been printed was that of Kev. John Ilig- 
ginson, in Kit;::. After it became the custom to publish the sermons, the members 
of the General Courl had a certain number for distribution among their consti- 
tuents, and they thus had a wide circulation among those u ho were mosl likely 

to lie influenced by them. With the exception of L764, when the smallpox raged 
in Boston, they were delivered every year for two hundred and fifty years. 



Dior;/ of Isaiah Thomas. 14,") 

called to see me in the Evening. I had not seen Mrs. I), 
many years. Spent the Evening with a party of Ladies 
& Gent n . at Mr. E. T. Andrews's. 

30. Gov. Strong 1 escorted to town with great paradf — 
cavalcade (on horseback and in carriages) extended nearly 
a mile. 2 Visited Miss R. Armstrong at Mrs. Williams'. 



'Caleb Strong, the son of Lieutenant Caleb and Phebe Lyman Strong, was grad- 
uated from Harvard in 1764, studied law with Joseph Hawley, in Northampton, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1772. He was a member of the Committee of Cor- 
respondence and Safety in 1774-7.") ; a representative in the General Court from 
1776 to 1778; county attorney from 177t> to 1S00; a member of the state constitu 
tional convention in 1779; of the council in 1780; and from the latter year to 
1789, was in the State Senate. In 1787 he was a member of the convention to 
frame the Constitution of the United States, and two years later was elected one 
of the first United States senators from Massachusetts, serving until his resignation 
in 1796. He was governor of Massachusetts from 1800 to 1807, and from 1812 
to 1816. Governor Strong was a warm Federalist, and in his second term was 
greatly opposed to the War of 1812; and when a requisition was made upon him 
for troops, he denied the right of the President to make this demand, on constitu- 
tional grounds, in which he was sustained by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. 
When, however, the administration withdrew nearly all the national troops from 
the coast of the state, leaving it in a defenceless condition, he was active in adopting 
measures for its safety. 

He received the degree of LL.D from Harvard, in 1801; was a fellow of the 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and a member of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. 

[Born, Northampton, 9 January, 1745. Died, Northampton, 7 November, 1819.] 

2 At an early hour on this morning the lieutenant-governor-elect (William Phillips), 
the selectmen of Boston and citizens, escorted by the Boston Hussars, met Governor 
Strong at the seat of Governor Gore, in Waltham. At about nine o'clock the com- 
pany started for Boston, and on passing Watertown a federal salute was fired, and 
the bells were rung. At Cambridge common they were met by large numbers of 
gentlemen from the surrounding towns, on horseback and in carriages, and an 
address of welcome was delivered by Colonel John T. Apthorp, the chief marshal 
of the day, to which Governor Strong briefly responded. A general cavalcade 
of about six hundred horsemen was then arranged as an escort, the hussars form- 
ing around the carriage of the governor and lieutenant-governor, and the carriages 
following. After the procession had passed Charlestown bridge, and arrived at 
the Boston line, the "North End Artillery' - fired a salute from Copp's Hill, and 
a similar salute was given by the "Washington Artillery" when Park street was 
reached. "The moment the Governor's carriage struck the pavement in Boston. 
a spontaneous plaudit from an immense population welcomed the Patriot to the 
town; and similar plaudits were repeated when he alighted from bis carriage a 1 
10 



146 



American Antiquarian Society. 



She came into town to see me. A Mr. Badger called to 
see me and informed me he lived in Charlestown, S°. 
Carolina, when I was there 43 years since, and that I then 
used to visit his house — his object charity — I had not 
seen him since I came from Carolina. 

31. Went to North Church in the morning, and Chapel 
in the afternoon. Felt unwell for several days — took 
physic this evening. 

Went to Boston on the 26 th on purpose to attend 
Directors of the Turnpike — was disappointed — they did 
not attend. 

June, 1812. 

1. Artillery Election — grand parade with that com- 
pany — more people assembled on the common than usual 
en the occasion, particularly females. 

2. Returned to Worcester in the carriage accom- 
panied by Anne Sheldon. Sat out at 4 "Clock in the 
morning. Warm day. Got home at half past 5 °Clock 
and attended at Bank. 

3. Took Physic. 

5. Attended Parish Meeting as Moderator. Fire ;tt 
night and morning very agreeable all this season and till 
the i norning of this day. 

the St at c-House. The whole scene was highly impressive — it was the free-will 
offering of a liberal people; and must have gratified every heart not cankered with 
envy ami malice." 





Cash re< 


•' May. 






8. 


Rec<> at Walpole, 60.00 




St, 


re, 


■).<tti 


13. 


i if Webb toward.- Rent, 33.00 




Of 


'1'. & A. for the Co., 


159. 33 




Of Stiles for do., 20.00 




Rent rec d of Mrs. Moore, 


45.00 




Cash |>ai 


1 au 


ay. 






Vpr 


27-30. <)n a journey to 




lo. 


do. do. 


:>.7.-> 




Walpole, 3.00 




Hi. 


Levi, 


. r >.()() 


Maj 


_'. Stage fair. &c. to Windsor, 3.00 




20. 


His expences to Most 


.n 2.25 




8. do. to Walpole. LOO 






Family, 


9.50 




I it. Expenses of a Journey 




21. 


do. & Mrs. T., 


22.00 




to Windsor, 32.00 




31. 


Expences to Bosl on, 


34.00 




L3. Mrs. Thomas, 30.00 






Taxes, in part , 


L13.00 




1 1. Paid Hank. 8.00 






Levi — in Boston, 


5.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 147 

7. Went to Chh. twice. 
9. Attended at Bank. 

14. Went to Chh. twice. 

16. Mr. E. T. Andrews, his wife, my son's wife and 
Miss H. Weld came up to see us. Attended at the Bank. 
No discounts. 

15. War declared against G*. Britain by Congress. 

19. Went to Framingham with Judge Nath 1 . Paine in 
a Chaise to attend Meeting of Worcester Turnpike direc- 
tors and returned. Lost my Cane, silver headed, which 
I have owned 40 years. 

20. President's Proclamation of War against England. 
My cane was found in Shrewsbury, and I sent for it, and 
got it. Mrs. Soper and her husband, came from Boston. 
Mr. E. T. Andrews, his wife, and her Sisters, went from 
this place yesterday on their way to the Springs at Staf- 
ford. Mrs. Mary Andrews (widow of William Andrews 
who died about three months ago) died yesterday in Boston 
of Apoplexy. 

21. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Cotton preached. Mr. 
Soper returned to Boston — Mrs. Soper remained here on 
a visit. 

23. Attended at Bank. No discounts. Contracted to 
have the bridge completed. 

24. Mr. Andrews's wife & Sisters returned from Staf- 
ford Springs. Attended at the Bank, with other direc- 
tors, counting Bills, Specie in the vaults, examining Books, 
Notes &c. 

25. At Bank on the same business. 

26. At Bank again. Burnt 77,000 dols. of Bank bills. 
Mr. Andrews, his wife and her Sisters returned to Boston. 



14S American Antiquarian Society. 

27. Mr. Soper came up from Boston. Was a bonds- 
man this day for Moses Thomas as deputy Sheriff. 

28. Soper returned. Went to Chh. twice. 
30. Went to Bank. No discounts. 

July, 1812. 

4. Federalists and Republicans celebrated the day 
in Worcester — but separately— each party formed a pro- 
cession. The Federalists, joined by the Washington 
Benevolent Society, 1 consisted of about 500, escorted by 



1 The Washington Benevolent Society, a charitable-political association, to aid 
the widows and orphans of Revolutionary soldiers, and to spread the principles 
of the Federal party, was first organized in Massachusetts, by the enthusiastic 
young Federalists of Boston, 22 February, 1812; and on 17 March, Oliver Fiske. 
William Stedrnan and six others were authorized by the Hampshire society, at 
Northampton, to form a branch for Worcester County, which was organized on 
the following day. At the meeting, 1.5 April, William Stedrnan was elected presi- 
dent ; .Joseph Allen, Benjamin Adams and Oliver Crosby, vice-presidents; Daniel 
Waldo, secretary; and Samuel Allen, treasurer. These officers, with Oliver Fiske, 
Nathaniel P. Denny, Elijah Waters and Salem Towne, Jr., formed the standing 
committee, whose duty it was to distribute the donations of the society. There 
were also four stewards — Silas Brooks, Asa Hamilton, Reuben Sikes, and William 
Coolidge, — who provided the places of meeting, collected the ballots, and assisted 
in keeping order. Meetings were held on the first Wednesday of each month, at 
which an address, not exceeding fifteen minutes, was usually delivered, and some 
"proper and useful publication'' was read; and at the annual meetings, which 
took place on the anniversary of the inaugural ion of Washington, there was a dinner, 
and an oration by one of the members. There are only two of these orations known 
to have been delivered in Worcester — those of Samuel M. Burnside, in 1 S 1 : * . and 
of John Davis, in 1817. 



June 







( lash 


rec <1 . 






:\. 


Store. 


sot; 




Store —and a debl . 


7.00 


hi. 


do. at sundry t imes, 


i 1.00 


21 


Cash of Joseph Blake, 


L00.00 


ll. 


l'i< mi The" Wheeler, 


50.00 


22 


. Store. 


1.2."i 




I,'. -in Newbury St. 




25 


. do., 


:',.o(i 




house, 


50.00 
Paid i 


80 
u ay. 


Kent from Webb 


8.51 


:{. 


Mrs. T. for ( 'alic-o. 


17.00 




Repairs New bury St . bou 


e. 4.50 


6. 


Levi, 


5.00 


12. 


Paid Sutton. 


1 1.77 


10. 


Paid foi Win. Sheldon, 


30.00 


22. 


I>. Waldo lor ('aid- 






family, about 


3.00 




well's debt. 


100.50 


1 1. 


Paid Judge Brigham 




27. 


Shingles, 


3.00 




for Win. Sheldon, 


50.00 




Sundries. 


2.00 



Dior;/ of Isaiah Thomas. 14!) 

the Light Infantry company. Went to the north meeting 
house. Francis Blake, Esq 1 ", delivered an Oration. They 



The proceedings were secret, and at the initiation of the members, an address, 
which formed part of the constitution of the society, was made by the president, 
explaining the principles upon which the society was founded, and closing as foll- 
ows:— "Whilst the illustrious Washington was at the head of the Administration 
of the Federal Government our unparalleled prosperity proved that our national 
affairs were conducted with purity and wisdom. Then the Constitution was strictly 
and sacredly regarded, and the rights and privileges of the people not only acknowl- 
edged, but constantly cherished and promoted. But, since that period, we believe 
our Constitution has been violated, publick sentiment has been corrupted, virtue 
iV: talents have been proscribed, and the rights and interests of the people have been 
made the sport of unprincipled ambition . . . Having, with deep regret, observed 
the baneful effects produced by combinations against the morals and politicks 
of our fellow-Citizens; having marked the dangerous influence of ambitious and 
designing men uniting to obtain by means of popular deception every honourable 
and profitable Office under the Government; and being convinced that very many 
of those who are loudest in their professions of love of the people, love of liberty 
and equality, have no other object than the attainment of power and the building 
of fortunes upon the ruin of their Country; — We have adopted as our Motto 'By 
their fruits ye shall know them.' — When bad men combine, good men must unite." 

The members were then made to swear that they were firmly attached to the 
Constitution of the United States, and would use their exertions to preserve and 
defend it against the inroads and contaminations of Aristocracy, Monarchy and 
Despotism in every form; to divest themselves of all partiality for foreign Nations, 
more especially when such partiality will interfere with the interests of the United 
States; to use their endeavors to have the Government administered upon the 
principles of our beloved Washington; and to exercise their privileges as Citizens, 
and vote, at all elections, for such men as they conscientiously believed would be 
faithful to the Constitution, and were attached to the political principle which dis- 
tinguished the glorious Administration of Washington; and that they would never 
communicate anything said or done, in this Society, unless it be to a member, or 
when compelled by process of law. 

The Democrats claimed that the forming of these societies at this time was a 
trick on the part of the Federalists to influence the April elections. "We pretend 
not," says the National /Egis of 25 March, 1812, "in these days of plots and con- 
spiracies, either to charge Secret Societies with wrong intentions, or to acquit them 
of the charge. There is something singular, however, in secret schemes of benevo- 
lence, and secret modes of paying respect to WASHINGTON." 

The Worcester society soon took up the cause of temperance, and 1 December, 
1813, issued a circular, calling attention to the mischief daily arising from the 
distillation of grain in Massachusetts, the magnitude and alarming consequences 
of the evil, "threatening the country with famine and distress, accompanied by 
the horrid mischiefe of drunkeness and vice," and asked for co-operation in lessening 
it. It stated that as much grain could be consumed by one distillery in a month 



150 American Antiquarian Society. 

dined in a large booth on Frost's hill. 1 Republican pro- 
cession, about 300 escorted by the Artillery Com y . had 
an Oration at the S°. Meeting house, by Enoch Lincoln 2 — 

as would probably be used by two hundred families in a year; and suggested the 
propriety of presenting a petition to Congress, to lay such a tax on domestic spirits, 
as would afford a rational prospect of diminishing their consumption. 

In the political excitement which prevailed during the war, great activity was 
shown, and the societies multiplied rapidly, but they disappeared with the down- 
fall of Federalism. 

The last regular meeting of the Worcester society was held 3 May, 1820; and 
at a special meeting, 31 August, 1836, it was voted, that as the occasion for which 
the funds of the society were collected had ceased to exist, and as there was no 
necessity of their being longer retained to answer any purpose originally contem- 
plated in the formation of the association, they should be appropriated t<> some 
public charity; and the Worcester Agricultural Society was chosen, as being "one 
of peculiar interest to the citizens of Worcester, as dispensing continually its ad- 
vantages to every class and portion of our Community; and towards which, almost 
every individual entertains the most favorable regards." 

1 This hill, upon which the State Insane Asylum stands, on Summer street, 
received its name from the execution of Samuel Frost, of Princeton, near the spot 
31 October, 1793. It was also known at this time as Federal hill. To the north- 
east, extending across the present Mulberry street, was a large chestnut grove, 
which was used for many years for public celebrations and picnics. 

2 Enoch Lincoln, the fourth son of Levi and Martha Waldo Lincoln, entered 
the sophomore class at Harvard in 1800, but withdrew in 1808, during his senior 
year. He studied law with his brother Levi, was admitted to the bar in Worcester 
County, in 1811. and began to practise in Salem. In 1812 he returned to Worces- 
ter, and in the following year removed to Fryeburg, Me., where he devoted himself 
to his profession and to literature. In 1815 he was appointed deputy by William 
P. Preble, then district attorney of the United States, and from 1818 to 1820 repre- 
sented the district of Oxford in Congress. In 1819 he removed to Paris, the county 
seat, where he continued to practise his profession. He was elected governor of 
Maine in 1826, by an almost unanimous vote of both parties, and was re-elected 
the two succeeding years without opposition, but declined to be a candidate in 
L829. As governor of the state he was zealously devoted to its interests, and his 
state papers were noted for their scholarly character, and his messages for their 
suggestiveness, brevity and good taste. One of his Thanksgiving proclamations 
was so brief and comprehensive, that it was printed on satin by his admirers. When, 
during his administration the question of the northeastern boundary of the state 
arose, he took a strong ground for state sovereignty, and boldly and decidedly, 
but unsuccessfully, denied the right of the national government to cede any portion 
of its territory without its consent. He also gave much attention to public im- 
provements and education. In the autumn of 1829, while suffering from severe 
illness, he went to Augusta to address the Female Academy there, and the effort 
so exhausted his strength, that he was carried to the house of a friend, where he 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 151 

dined on the Common in a booth. Each party had a band 
of Music. Fireworks in the Evening. 1 



died three days later. Governor Lincoln never married. He published while 
in Fryeburg, "The Village," a poem descriptive of that town and the surrounding 
country, and left in manuscript an unfinished work on the history and resources 
of Maine. 

[Born, Worcester, 28 December, 1788. Died, Augusta, 11 October, 1829.] 

'According to the account of the Federal celebration of the day, in the Massa- 
chusetts Spy, "its arrival was announced by a salute of cannon and the ringing of 
bells, which, with the beauty of the morning and the conviction that we were yet 
an independent nation, dispelled the gloom which has for a few weeks past, he- 
clouded the countenance of almost every individual." The procession started 
from Court hill at eleven o'clock, and returned to Dr. Bancroft's church, where 
the exercises were opened by Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, "in a pathetick and 
appropriate address to the Almighty Ruler of nations, giving thanks for the happiness 
which yet remained to us, and imploring his protection under the trials which 
awaited us. An Oration was delivered by the Hon. FRANCIS BLAKE, which 
is now in the press, and on which comment or encomium would be lost in the celeb- 
rity which will accompany it." 

The National Mgis of 17 June, announces that the very motive which some had 
flattered themselves would prevent the Republicans from celebrating the day in 
Worcester — the fact "that the most unprecedented exertions are making by our 
political antagonists, for a mighty display of the strength and splendour of Worcester 
County Federalism and Washingtonian Benevolence," — was the principal reason 
for their doing so. "It has been supposed that Republicans would hide themselves 
from the spectacle! That they would not. dare to shew their heads before fifteen 
hundred federalists, with flags flying, trumpets blowing, together with all the finery 
of pictures, ?nedals, and blue ribands, &c. &c. But FELLOW REPUBLICANS, 
this is not our character. We know the real motives of the enemies of government 

in this hypocritical parade U'e shall feel proudly conscious that we are 

paying a more sincere and heart-felt respect to the glorious occasion. Lot us then 
assemble and present an honorable contrast of Republican dignity and simplicity 
to federal folly and foppery." "The Republicans of Worcester County," says 
the same paper of 8 July, "never fail to greet with appropriate solemnities and 
festivities, the Anniversary of the Day, which dissolved the connection of their 
country with a base, corrupted Government, and gave it its rank among the Nations 
of the Earth. The Second Declaration of Independence gave a new impulse to their 
patriotism, the present year; and a holy zeal animated every heart, and roused 

every latent feeling of devotion to their country's cause The Crisis had 

arrived — and they felt without fearing it." 

The procession, consisting of eight hundred and seventy-two citizens, was escorted 



152 American Antiquarian Society. 

5. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Soper came again from 
Boston. 

6. Mr. & Mrs. Soper returned to Boston. 

8. Attended all day at the Bank; New Bank accepted, 
and subscribed for Shares. I subscribed for 127 Shares. 



by the Worcester Artillery. Abraham Lincoln acted as president of the day, and 
Major Estes Howe and Adjutant Reuben Monroe were the marshals. 

Rev. Mr. Leonard, of Sturbridge, offered a prayer, "devout, patriotick and 
eloquent — an Address to the Throne of Grace, which led the hearts of the hearers 
to the only source of support, in times of national emergency, and made a fervent 
appeal to, while it placed the hopes of the nation on, the GOD OF JUSTICE. A 
judicious selection of appropriate passages from the incomparable Message of the 
President, recommending War, was then read, with classical elegance, by Wit.uam C. 
White, Esquire. The ORATION followed, impressively and eloquently pronounced 
by ENOCH LINCOLN, Esq. Reiterated and spontaneous bursts of applause, 
testified the warm approbation of a crowded audience — and the Editor, for himself, 
can only express his opinion by saying, that the production, in profundity of politi- 
cal views, in correctness of patriotick sentiment, in classical purity and energy 
of stile, transcended even his highly-raised expectation. The mind of the writer 
had soared above the ordinary topicks of party cavil, and exhibited a lucid epitome 
of the principles of the Revolution and an unexceptional code of a freeman's duty. 
After the singing of Billing s Hymn to Independence, an ode was sung with taste 
and elegance by Mr: George Warren, while the audience joined, heart and voice, 
in the Chorus. This animating emanation of patriotick genius is from the pen 
of Edward D. Bangs, Esq. of this town.'' 

1 tilling the dinners which followed the exercises, these toasts were reciprocated 
by the two parties: — 

"The Company assembled on Federal Hill, to celebrate American Independence, 
have --ciit their Committee to the Company assembled for the same object, near 
the South Meeting House, to congratulate them upon the return of this glorious 
Anniversary to wish many happy returns of it— and to reciprocate with them 
the following sentimenl : The I merican Family — While we partake of the Blessings 
of our Birth right, may we not forget thai we are Brethren. 

"The Republican Citizens assembled on the Common, for the celebration of the 
Anniversary of theii Country's Independence, most cordially receive and reciprocate 
the fraternal and patriotic sentiment expressed by their Brethren of the American 
family assembled on Federal Hill, and propose to them the following Toast — The 
union of all honest men, when honest men are for the Union," 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas 



153 



This was a Stockholders' meeting. 1 Mr. Whipple came 
this evening from Walpole. 



The following were among the toasts given at the tables: — 



FEDERAL. 

The President of the United States — May 
the States soon be united in another. 



Governor Strong — He has already been 
"tried seven times in the fire." Another 
trial exhibits new proof of the purity 
of his patriotism, and the lustre of his 
virtues. 

Mr. Jefferson — We consent that the 
surplus he left in the Treasury be ap- 
propriated to the erection of his own 
monument. 

The late Governor Gerry — Before he be- 
comes Tire-President, may he be purified 
from his political vices. 



REPUBLICAN. 

JAMES MADISON, President of the 
United States — In the spirit of Repub- 
lican forbearance, he proffered peace: 
in the temper of patriotic Independence, 
he recommends War. Alike prudent and 
energetic, he directed his policy to the 
aspect of the times, and in the result 
has merited the unreserved confidence 
of Freemen. 

His Excellency CALEB STRONG— The 
Commander in Chief of the Militia of 
Massachusetts — May his vigour and 
promptitude in military duty equal his 
promptitude in civil evolutions. 
THOMAS JEFFERSON— Honor to his 
name; thanks for his services; and 
immortal lustre to his example. 

ELBRIDGE GERRY— 

"Thanks to his foes? 
"He owes to their unkindest, bitterest 
spite His kindest fortune.'' 
Washington Benevolent Societies — "They 
and their name do no more adhere, and 
keep together than the hundreth psalm 
and the tune of green sleeves." 



The WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT 
SOCIETIES and friends of Washington 
policy throughout the United States- 
May they preserve the "unity of the 
Spirit" in the Bond of Peace. 

1 The original charter of the Worcester Bank was granted for a period of eight 
years from 1 October, 1804; and 15 May, 1811, the stockholders voted to apply 
for its renewal, with the liberty of increasing the capital to a sum not exceeding 
four hundred thousand dollars, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., was appointed their agent to 
support the application, and to take whatever steps were necessary. Petitions 
were presented to the General Court in May, 1811, and January, 1812, but "the 
conflicting interests of the members of the Legislature," due without doubt to the 
exertions of the Boston banks, caused their rejection. In May, 1812, the direc- 
tors presented a third petition, in which they say that "in the interior of a country 
greatly enterprising, and extensively engaged in all the variety of useful occupa- 
tion, they would view with anxiety the allotted period for its termination, but 
from a confidence in t he provident wisdom of the Legislature which assures to them 
its renewal. Nearly eight years of fortunate experiment, have tested the utility 
of the Institution. Since the incorporation of the Bank, its accommodations have 
been fairly and liberally extended to the industrious and deserving applicant in 
every class of society. It has cherished and encouraged the manufactures of the 
country; it has contributed to improvements in Agriculture; it has supported 
the credit of trade; it has multiplied the resources of business; it has diminished 
the number of lawsuits, The County of Worcester justly boasts of her mechanics 



154 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Attended at the Tanyard. 

10. Anson Whipple returned to Walpole. 

11. Went to Boston with my granddaughter Caroline. 

12. Went to Church twice at Chapel. Dined with E. 
T. Andrews. 

13. Went to Jamaica Plains, with my son and Grand- 
daughter Frances. Dined with Mr. Soper. Negro pro- 
cession. 

14. Spent the Evening at Mr. Phillips's, West Boston. 

16. Went to Braintree, dined with Mrs. Soper, and 
her children, and other connexions of her family assembled 
on the occasion — drank Tea with the same persons at 
M rs . Minot Thayer's at Braintree. Returned to Boston 
with Eliza, Miss Calef &c. in my carriage. 

18. Returned to Worcester in the Coachee alone. 

19. Mr. Nash preached and dined with me. Went to 
Chh. once. 

20. Reaped 6 acres of rye. 

21. Mrs. Thomas & Mrs. Frazier went to Sterling & 
Lancaster, and my granddaughter Mary Rebecca. 

22. Mrs. T. & Frazier returned with my Brother's 



and lier artificers; the extent of her workshops, and more especially of the inge- 
nuity of her labors in the fabric of cloths and of paper, and in the greater impor- 
tance of her manufactories in Iron. A sum beyond the calculation of your 
petitioners is constantly employed as a capital in a multiplicity of mechanical 
engagements. Loans are urgently applied for and readily granted to these im- 
portant interests, and your petitioners are authorized in the assurance that the 
existence of the Hank and the continuance of the accommodations are indispen- 
sable to their preservation." 

This petition was successful, and in June the charter was granted for a period 
of twenty years, and the capital was fixed at two hundred thousand dollars. 

The first directors elected under the new charter were: Daniel Waldo, Benjamin 
Heywood, Samuel ITagg, Nathaniel Paine, Oliver Fiske, Levi Lincoln, Jr., and 
[saiah Thomas. 




CENTRAL PART OF WORCESTER. From a manuscript map of 1825. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



155 



wife & Granddaughter Mary R. My Niece Mrs. Ball 
married this Month to Mr. Willard, 1 Alt > al Law. 

23. Fast day. 2 Went to Chh. twice. 

24. Packed up Books to send to Rutland, Vermont. 

26. Went to Chh. twice. 

27. My son came up from Boston with his two sons. 

28. Attended at the Hank. 

'1\). Went to Lancaster with my brother's wife. 

'AO. Returned from Lancaster. 

31. My son went to Brookfield. 

This month began to repair my houses on the hill, and 
to repaint them. Built new dates each Side of my dwel- 
ling house. 

1 Calvin Willard studied law with Richard II. Dana, in Boston, and was ad- 
mitted to practice in the Court of Common Picas, in ISO!), and in t he Supreme Judi- 
cial Court, in 1812. He practised for a short time in Barnstable and in Petersham, 
and then removed to Fitchburg, where he remained until he was appointed sheriff 
of Worcester County by Governor Lincoln in 1825. lie held this office by successive 
appointments for twenty-two years, living in Worcester, with the exception of 
the last two or three years, when he lived in Millbury. Be returned to Worcester 
in 1849. 

Mr. Willard is spoken of as a model sheriff, somewhat formal in his manner, 
courteous though reserved to all, and added dignity to his office by his gent lem.-inly 
bearing and the care and neatness of his dress, always appearing in the court room 
in a blue dress coal with gilt buttons, bull waistcoat and ruffled shirt, and bearing 
his staff of office. 

[Born, Harvard, Mass., 7 Dec, 1784. Died, Worcester, 2(1 September, 1807.] 

'-' Tlits was observed as a fast day, on account of the war, in Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island and Connecticut. 







Cash rec' 1 


luly. 




1. 


Store, 


3.00 


13 


For Kent in Boston, 


200.00 


4. 


do., 


3.00 




lice 1 . 1 ii ( lllice, 


34.00 


8. 


From the Bank 


on loan, 263.00 




Store, 


10.00 






('ash paid 


i way. 




1. 


Sundries. 


8.00 




Paid Note Turnpike Fitz Wm 


, 25.00 


4. 


A. Sheldon, 


1.01) 


20 


Paid Stafford Turnpike 




8. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


30.00 




assessment , 


100.00 


9. 


Flour, 


13.17 




Paid for Shingles, 


30.00 




Levi, 


5.00 


23 


Paid Keyes's note, 


137.66 


(1. 


Paid B. Andrews f 


ir Kimball, 40.00 




Paid Turnpike Fitz Win., 


5.00 




Cyclopedia, 


9.00 




Family, 


1. 10 




Light hat, 


2.50 




Jos. Patch's Account, 


4.60 




Sundries, 


3.75 




Mj brol her < 'ash, 


5.00 




White Lead 


4.20 


24 


Mrs. T., 


10.00 



156 American Antiquarian Society. 

August, 1812. 

1. Got in the last Loads of Eye. Went to Tanyd. 

2. Went to Church twice. 

3. My brother came from Lancaster. 

4. My son, his daughter Mary, and his two sons re- 
turned to Boston. My Brother returned to Lancaster. 

5. Stockholders Meeting of the old Bank and the new. 
Chosen a Director. 

7. Engaged all this week in arranging Books in my 
Library. 

9. Took medicine. Did not go abroad. 

10. Began burning the land lately cleared over the 
Hill. 

12. County Convention met in the Court house. 1 

13. Convention again met. 

15. Rode out. Attended at the bank. 

16. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Allen of Bolton preached. 
General Hull surrendered his army at Detroit. 

17. Eli — a black boy came to live with me. 

18. Attended at the Bank. 

19. Went to Boston with Mrs. Frazier. Left a girl 
who has lived with us at Jamaica Plains. Left Frazier, 
our housekeeper at Mrs. Soper's. 

1 This convention of Federal delegates from forty-one towns in Worcester County, 
was called to consider what measures should be adopted "in the present perilous 
situation of our country, to mitigate the calamities of the present war with Great 
Britain, to avert further evils with which we are threatened, to accomplish a speedy 
and honorable peace, and to arrest the course of thai disastrous policy, which, if 
persisted in, cannot fail to terminate in the destruction of the rights and liberties 
of the people.'' Benjamin Heywood was president, of the convention, and Nathaniel 
I'. Denny, of Leicester, secretary. The Worcester delegates were Benjamin Heywood, 
Francis Blake and Elijah Burbank. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 157 

20. National Fast appointed by the President — went 
to the North Church — about 300 new Recruits for the 
army, marched for the army at Albany. 1 Mrs. Soper 
brought to bed with a son, yesterday, the 19 th a few minutes 
before I got to her house. 



1 This detachment <>f about four hundred United States troops from Forts Inde- 
pendence and Warren, entered Worcester just after the morning service on the 
following Sunday, and encamped on the Common, near the Old South Church. It 
was composed of infantry, and thirty pieces of artillery, with their caissons for fixed 
ammunition, travelling forges, tent equipages and baggage wagons, the whole drawn 
by one hundred and ninety horses. 

The National /Egis says: "The Republicans of Worcester, previous to their 
arrival, had made arrangements to give them a hearty welcome, and the prepared 
refreshments were proffered anil accepted, by the following letters: — Majors LIN- 
COLN and HOWE having proceeded to Westboro', attended by several gentlemen 
of this town, to meet them. 

"Lieut. Col. JOHN L. TUTTLK. 

We wait upon you. Sir, in the name of the Republicans of the Town of Worces- 
ter, to express to you and the Troops under your command, our high confidence 
in your valour and patriotism — our warmest wishes for your success and glory — 
and to solicit your acceptance of refreshment for your Troops as you pass our vil- 
lage. 

By the ret/uest of the Republican Citizens of the Town of Worcester 

LEVI LINCOLN, .In. 
ESTES HOWE, 

Committee. 

August 22. 1812." 

"Westborough, August 22d. 1812. 
To Maj. LEV] LINCOLN, Jr., and Maj. ESTES HOWE. 

Gbntlemen — I have lost no time in Communicating to my detachment, your 
note of this date, expressing in the name of the Republicans of the town of AVoreester, 
your 'high confidence in the valour and patriotism of the Officers and troops under 
my command, and your kind wishes for their success and glory, and solicitation to 
accept of refreshment, as they pass your village;' and have the honour to return 
you their sincere thanks for this distinguished mark of the civility and attention 
of the Republicans of the town of Worcester, and to assure you, that they will 
cheerfully accept of your very polite invitation. 

I have the honour to be, with sentiments of the highest consideration and res- 
pect, your obedient servant. 

J. I,. TUTTLE, 

Lieut. Col. 9th Reg. Inf. of U. S. A." 
As the troops left town the following morning, the Worcester Artillery fired a 
salute, which was "joined by the cheers of applauding spectators." 



158 American Antiquarian Society. 

21. Dined with Mr. Soper. 

2:->. Wont to Church once at Christ's Chh. was unwell 
at Chh. Dined with E. T. Andrews and spent the after- 
noon with Eliza. 

24. Went to Newton to view Turnpike with the Direc- 
tors. 

25. Bought a pair of horses belonging to M r . Pitkins 
for 285 dollars. Attended meeting of Historical Society. 
Settled annual Acct. with M r . Andrews. 

26. Sat out this morning for Worcester at 4 "Clock in 
Coachee, with Frazier and my G. daughter Frances. 

27. Frances went to School. 

28. This week repaired yard & garden fences. 

29. Put a new Gushing and trimmings to Mr. Bancroft's 
Pulpit. Heard that the degree of Master of Arts was on 
Wednesday last conferred on me at Dartmouth College. 
This was unsolicited by me. Perhaps not true. I find 
it was only a nomination, as is usual, for next year. This 
nomination was made by the President at the instigation 
of a friend as I am informed. 

30. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Bancroft gone on a 
journey. Mr. Parker of Portsmouth preached. 

31. Went to the Tanyard. 









Cash reed 


Aug. 




1. 


Rent of Win. Rice, 
Store, 




31.50 

.',.0(1 




do. in Store, 


0.50 
3.00 




[nterest, 1>. Waldo 


Linc< 


In, 9.90 


27. 


do., 


2.75 


25. 


Rec d Rent Boston oi 


M'. 


A., 50.00 














Paid away. 




2. 


M. B.'a board, 




5.00 


21. 


Repairing new Tomb, 


2. 50 




Taxes, 




15.00 




Paid Frazier, 


3.25 




Sundries for family, 




5.00 




Sundries ami Expenses to 




18. 


[nterest Waldo, 




22.00 




Boston, 


9.00 




Dr. Bancroft hay. 




20.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


6.50 




Mrs. Thomas, 




10.00 




Levi twice, 


3.00 




Frazier, 




10.00 




Taxes in part, 


35.72 



Ihi 1 whole of my taxes in Worcester this year exclusive of highway is 214 dollar: 

79 cents. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 159 

September, 1812. 

1. Republican County Convention met in Centre 
School house. 1 

2. Attended at the Tanyard. 

3. Went to Framingham and attended Meeting of 
the Turnpike Directors, and returned. 

4. Cleared out the drain of the sink. Built new Well 
Curb. 

6. Mr. Abbot, Librarian of Har. Col. preached. 2 

7. Began to repaint the Wood house, and to Level 
the Square at the Bridge — also to Shingle the house Levi 
lives in. 

8. Attended at the Bank. Mrs. Seaver with us. 

9. Sowed eight acres with rye on land lately cleared 
of wood. 

10. Sent Levi, with the Coach, and the old horses to 



'Forty-eight towns in Worcester County were represented in this convention, 
which met in the Baptist Meeting Hall, in the Centre School House. After its 
organization by the election of General Jonathan Davis of Oxford, as President, 
and Daniel Gilbert of North Brookfield, as Secretary, a committee consisting of 
Pliny Merrick (Sen.), Moses White, Joseph Adams, Timothy Whiting, Levi Lincoln, 
Jr., Nathan Fisher, Samuel Brazer, Jr., William Charles White and Joseph Field, 
was appointed to draft an address and a set of resolutions. The latter approved 
and defended the measures of the government in its conduct of the war; denounced 
the attitude of the Federalists, stating that " they view with horror, the conduct of 
a desperate party among our citizens, who are advocating the cause, and strength- 
ening the hands of our national enemy; who are striving to paralize the arm of our 
constituted authorities; who are exciting disaffection to the Government and 
opposition to the laws, and are threatening the destruction of our liberties and the 
loss of our Independence"; and recommended the nominations of Madison and 
Gerry. The Worcester delegates were Abraham Lincoln, Estes Howe, Levi Lincoln, 
Jr., Levi Heywood, William E. Green, Samuel Brazer, Jr., Thomas Nichols, Nathan 
White and William Eaton. 

2 John Lovejoy Abbot was graduated from Harvard in 1805, was its librarian 
from 1811 to 1813, and minister of the First Church in Boston from 1813 until his 
death in the following year. 



KiO American Antiquarian Society. 

Boston, to leave them, and bring; up a pair I lately pur- 
chased — and also to bring up Miss R. Armstrong. 

11. Levi returned with the Carriage and the horses, I 
lately purchased; but without Miss Armstrong. 

13. Mr. Abbot a young Candidate preached. Went to 
Church twice. 

15. Mrs. T. had a party. 

16. Court of Sessions — Sheriff & other Gentlemen spent 
the Even', with me. 

19. The Bell of the Court house broken yesterday the 
18 th inst whilst tolling for the Court of Sessions — was an 
accident not easily accounted for — it has been in use 71 
years, and appeared every way as good as when first made. 
A new Bell was procured the next day in Boston. 

21. Nathan Patch began to break up a piece of land 
in the pasture back of the hill. 

22. Went to the Bank. 

23. One Howe, and his termagant wife took possession 
of a house I own in West Boylston, about 6 months since, 
without leave, and altho' frequently warned to quit it, 
would not nor would he pay rent. I this day went with 
two officers, and was compelled to the necessity of putting 
all his goods out of doors, in order to put in a tenant to 
whom the house was leased. 

24. Tim y . Bigelow & Lady-— & others dined with me. 
S. J. C. sat but 3 days. 

25. Dined with Capt. J. Blake.' Knower absent 3 
days. 



1 Joshua Blake, a brother of Francis Blake, of Worcester, was appointed in 1801 
a lieutenant in the navy, ami served in the Mediterranean, but afterwards suffered 
in his reputation as an officer, and resigned his commission. 

lie married, 13 November, 1806, Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Chandler 
Stanton, of Worcester. He died in Northampton, 22 December, 1844. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



1(51 



26! Gen. Hull, late Commander of Detroit passed thro' 
town on his way home. 

27. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Wilson preached. 

28. Sat out for Boston at 6 "Clock this morning- 
arrived there at 6. 

30. Engaged Jos. Callender to go to Worcester to 
print the bills for the new bank. Dined with Mr. E. T. 
Andrews. Dr. Bancroft returned from the District of 
Maine. 



October, 1812. 

1. Sat out for Worcester at 5 °Clock this morning. 
Breakfasted with John Andrews, Esq 1 " at Jamaica Plains. 
Mrs. Thomas unwell with a Cold for several days. 

2. Transferred my Stock from the old to the new 
Bank. Parson Bancroft returned from a journey on a 
mission to the Eastward, to his house in Worcester. Brown, 
Carpenter, finished repairing buildings. 

3. Regimental muster. Charles went home. 

4. Went to Chh. twice. 

5. Rechosen a Director of the new Bank. 





Cash receiv 


ed. 




o 


Of Read for Rent, 20.00 


30. 


Rent in Boston, 


192.7S 


9. 


Of Sturtevant, 3.00 




From Philadelphia, 


49.00 


11. 


Store, 3.50 




Cash on hand, 


1029.32 


25. 


For the old Coach horse, 65.00 










Paid away 






1. 


M. B., 1.50 


15. 


( >yl for painting, 


22.00 


2. 


Mrs. Thomas, 15.00 
Family, 3.00 




Levi several times, say, 
Levi's Expenses to Boston 


2.00 


7. 


Frazier, Levi & Miss Sheldon, 5.00 




on the 11 th , 


3.00 


9. 


M. B., 5.37+ 


25. 


Levi twice, 


3.00 




Bank, 209.75 




Sundries, 


3.00 


1(1. 


Ticket, 5.00 


30. 


Tea — Shoes for family, &c. 


17.40 




Flour. 10.51) 




( )ther expenses, 


13.20 




Meat sundry times, 2.50 




State Bank, 


:;|s 22 




11 









1(52 American Antiquarian Society. 

7. Attended Stockholders meeting; at the Bank. 

8. Began to get in Corn. 

9. Knower finished Painting. Mr. Goddard's Son 
of Providence came on a visit. Mrs. T. unwell for 10 or 
12 days past. 

10. Gathered Shagbarks. 

11. Went to Chh. twice. Made fence for new Rye 
field. 

12. Young Goddard sat out on his Return to Provi- 
dence. Hip gout attacked me. 

13. Sent a Petition to the Gen. Court for an Act of 
Incorporation of an Antiquarian Society. 1 No discount 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of t he Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled. 

The subscribers, influenced by a desire to contribute to the advancement of the 
Arts and Sciences, and to aid, by their individual, and united efforts, in collecting, 
and preserving such materials, as may be useful in making their progress, not only 
in the United States, but in other parts of the Globe; and wishing also to assist 
the researches of the future historians of our Country, respectfully represent to 
the Legislature, that in their opinion, the establishment of an Antiquarian Society 
within this Commonwealth would conduce essentially to the attainment of these 
objects. — At present, there is no public association for such purposes within the 
United States. — The rapid progress of Science, and of t he useful and ornamental 
arts in our Country may be ascribed, in a great degree, to the numerous public 
institutions originated by patriotic individuals, but deriving their Countenance 
and Support from Legislative authority. — Such a Society, a- is now contemplated, 
a- its objects are essentially distinct from any other in our Country, it is believed, 
may advantageously cooperate with, without in the slightest degree impairing 
the utility of, other institutions. Its immediate and peculiar design is to discover 
the antiquities of our own Continent, and by providing a fixed, and permanent 
place of deposit, to preserve such relics of American antiquity as are portable, 
:■- well as to collect and preserve those of other parts of the Globe. By the long 
and successful labors of the College of antiquaries in Ireland, (probably the most 
ancient institution now existing in the world) their historians have been enabled 
to trace the history of that Country to an earlier period than that of any other 
nation of Kurope. The researches of a similar Society in England, established 
at a later period, at times discouraged, but now aided & fostered by the patronage 
of the government, have not merely furnished food for curiosity, but have provided 

manj valuable materials for the benefit of history, the improvement of Science, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 163 

at the Bank for want of a quorum of Directors. Battle 
at Niagara. 1 

14. The Petition was read and committed. Went to 
the fields and examined my corn, &c. 



and the advancement of the arts of life. — Almost every nation indeed of t lie Euro- 
pean world bears witness to the utility of similar institutions. — To the enlightened 
Legislature of Massachusetts, t he subscribers do not deem it necessary to exhibit . 
more in detail, the advantages which may be expected from such an establish- 
ment within this Commonwealth. — They ask for no other aid from the Common- 
wealth, than the facilities, which, in the pursuit of their objects, may accrue from 
an act of incorporation. — As an inducement to the grant of these privileges, they 
beg leave to state, that one of their number is, at this time, in possession of a 
valuable collection of books, obtained with great labor and expense, the value of 
which may be fairly estimated at about five thousand dollars, some of them more 
ancient than are to [bej found in any other part of our Country, and all of which, 
he intends to transfer to the proposed Society, should their project receive the 
sanction and encouragement of the Legislature. This grant, which is designed 
as the foundation of a superstructure to be hereafter erected, with such other con- 
ditions as may be reasonably expected, the subscribers believe will ensure the 
future growth and prosperity of the institution. 

As no injury can, at any rate be apprehended from such an experiment, even 
if it should prove unsuccessful, and as it may be productive of much public advan- 
tage, the petitioners flatter themselves, their project will not be discountenanced 
by the government of Massachusetts — They therefore respectfully pray for leave 
to bring in a bill for the incorporation of themselves and such persons as may 
hereafter associate with them', into a Society by the name of The American Anti- 
quarian Society, with the priviledge of holding real estate in perpetuity of the 
annual value of fifteen hundred dollars, and with such other priviledges and im- 
munities as are usually granted by acts of incorporation to other public Societies 
established within this Commonwealth. 

ISAIAH THOMAS. 

NATHL. PAINE. 

WM. PAINE." 

LEVI LINCOLN. 

AARON BANCROFT. 

EDWD BANGS. 

1 This was the battle of Queenstown, when General Stephen Van Rensselaer, 
in command of about six thousand men, half of whom were militia, crossed the 
Niagara river in the night and attacked the town. Imperfect organization, hap- 
hazard preparations and absence of discipline in the militia, rendered it a complete 
failure. The Americans lost one thousand men in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
while the British loss was only one hundred. 



h'. I American Antiquarian Society. 

L5. Sat <>ut for Boston in the Coachee with Levi at 
6 "Clock to attend to my Petition. Arrived there at (> 
"(lock P. M. Lodged at Mr. Soper's— found Eliza had 

been unwell ever since I was last in Boston. 

Hi. Attended (den. Court but could not get the Com ee . 
on my petition together. 

17. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. Attended (Jen. 
Court — hut could not get Com ee . together. 

IN. Went to Chh. at the Chape] twice. Dined with 
my Son. Sent Levi to the plains with a Letter to Miss 
Armstrong. 

19. Attended at Gen. Court. Met the Com ec . to con- 
sider of my petition for an Antiquarian Society. They 
reported in its favor. 

20. I drew a hill, and presented it to the House — it 
had two readings this day. Began to repaint the Court 
house in Worcester. 

21. It had a third Reading & passed. Sent to the 
Senate and read. Left Boston at 6 "Clock this morning 
with Miss Rebecca Armstrong and went by the way of 
Roxbury A: Waltham to Lancaster. Lodged at my 
brother's. Anne Sheldon went to Thompson. 

22. Read a second time in Senate & passed. Went 
from my brother's in Lancaster to Worcester with Miss 
Armstrong. Antiquarian Society incorporated. 

2.']. Gen. Court agreed on a mode of choosing Electors 
in Fed. Circuit Court districts. 1 



1 The electors bad formerly been chosen lis- i he concurrent vote of i be t wo branches 
of the General Court. An art was now passed providing for their election by 
popular vote, ami dividing the Commonwealth into six districts, by counties, for 
that purpose, via.: Suffolk, Essex ami Middlesex, five electors; Worcester. Hamp- 
shire, Hampden, Franklin ami Berkshire, six; Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk, Barn- 
stable, Dukes and Nantucket, four; York. Cumberland ami Oxford, three; Lincoln, 

Kennebec ami Somerset, three; ami Hancock ami Washington, !. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



165 



24. Gen. Court adjourned. Mrs. T. not wholly re- 
covered from her cold. 

25. W m . Sheldon arrived from New York. Had been 
absent 17 months. 

27. M r . Wm. Sheldon went on to Newyork to take 
passage in a Cartel for Jamaica. Anne Sheldon came 
home from Thompson, 3 hours after her father left Worces- 
ter. 

31. Attended the proprietors meeting at the Tanyard 
this Evening. Began to make a drain or course for the 
Water underground before the County house and gaol, 
towards the bridge. 

November, 1812. 

1. Went to Chh. twice. Wm. Goddard, jun. arrived 
from Providence. 

2. Several Members of the Antiquarian Society spent 
the Evening with me. 













Money receh 


ed. 




Borrower! at Bank 








300.00 


Borrowed of Judge Bangs, 


50.00 


B 


orrowed of Judge Paine, 




L50.00 


Dividend at Bank, 3 per 




M 


oney taken in Si 
times. 


ore 


sun 


Iry 


7.00 




Cent for (i months, 


381.00 












Cash pai 


d away. 




3. 


Mrs. Thomas, 
Levi, 








15.00 

1.00 


19. 


2 Lamps, 
Silver Pitcher, 


3.00 

37.00 


7. 


Paid at Bank, 
Mrs. Thomas, 
Sundries family, 








7.00 

15.00 

3.00 




lb. Hyson Tea, 

Silver Spoon — Sopor Child, 

Expenses to Boston it Sun- 


9.00 

2.00 


9. 


Post office Bill, 








16.78 




dries, 


13.00 




Family, 








1.25 


23. 


Levi, 


0.5(1 


10. 


Levi, 








0.50 


26. 


Lent Wm. Sheldon anil a 




12. 


Knower, 
Apples, 
Butcher, 
Levi, 








10.00 
0.00 
5.00 
1.00 




draft on Newyork, 
Levi, 
Lent S. M. Burnside .'! weeks 

ago, 


147.50 

30. 00 

.75 


14. 


Wm. White, 








5.00 


28. 


Quinces & Sundries 


1.34 


IT). 


Paid Treasurer 


of 


Worcest 


er 










Turnpike, 








140.00 









166 A mer lean Antiquarian Society. 

3. Advertised for the first meeting of the Antiquarian 
Society. 1 My son came in the Stage from Boston. At- 
tended at the Bank. 

4. Paid the remainder of my taxes for this year. 

8. Mr. Thayer preached. Went to Chh. twice. 

9. Sent Miss Armstrong, my Son and Granddaughter 
Frances to Boston, with Levi in the Coachee. 

10. Went to the bank. My brother returned to Lan- 
caster. 



'American Society of Antiquaries. 

WHEREAS by an Act of the 
Legislature of this Commonwealth, pass- 
ed October 24, 1S12, Isaiah Thomas, Levi Lin- 
coln, H. G. Otis, Timothy Bigelow, Nathaniel 
Paine and Edward Bangs, Esqrs. J. T. Kirkland, 
D. D. Aaron Bancroft, D. D. William Paine, M. 
D. Jonathan H. Lyman, Elijah H. Mills, Elijah 
Hammond, Timothy Williams, William D. Peck, 
John Lowell, Edmund Dwight, Eleazer James, 
Josiah Quincy, William S. Shaw, Francis Blake, 
Levi Lincoln, Jun. Samuel M. Burnside and Ben- 
jamin Russell, Esqrs. Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris, 
Redford Webster, Thomas Walcutt, Ebenezer T. 
Andrews, William Wells, and Isaiah Thomas, 
Jun. and such others as may associate with them 
for the purposes therein mentioned, were " formed 
into, and constituted a Society, and Body poli- 
tick and corporate, by the name of The Amcrica/i 
Antiquarian Society" for the purposes therein spec- 
ified. 

And whereas, by the fifth Section of 
said Act, the Undersigned is " authorised and em- 
powered to notify and warn the first meeting of 
said Society," Theiefore, in conformity thereto, 
he hereby notifies and warns each and every of the 
persons above named to meet, at the Exchange Cof- 
fee House in Boston, on Thursday the 19th day of 
November instant, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, 
then and there to take such measures as shall be 
necessary for organizing said Society, establishing 
such Rules and Regulations as shall be deemed ex- 
pedient, " agree upon a method for calling future 
meetings," and to Act upon any other matter or 
thing relating to the objects of said institution. 
ISAIAH THOMAS. 

Worcester^ November 2, iSij. 
Massachusetts Spy, Nov., 1812. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 167 

11. Eliza & Miss Calef came up from Boston in the 
Coach with Levi: they arrived at half past 8 °Ck>ck in 
the Evening. 

12. Electors for President chosen. 
15. Went to Chh. twice. 

17. Dined at 12 "Clock, and set out in the Coach with 
the Rev. D r . Bancroft & Judge Bangs for Boston. All 
lodged at Eaton's in Franiingham. Levi drove the Coach. 

18. All rose at 5 "Clock this morning — went on to 
Woodbury's in Newton — there took Breakfast. Went into 
Boston by way of Brighton — got into Boston at 12 "(lock. 
Dr. Bancroft and myself lodged at my son's. 

19. Attended the first Meeting of the American Anti- 
quarian Society — it was holden at the Exchange Coffee 
house. Rev. President Kirkland 1 of Harvard University, 



1 John Thornton Kirkland was the son of Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the noted mission- 
ary to the Indians, a chaplain in the Continental army ami the founder of Hamilton 
College. His mother was Jerusha, daughter of Jabez Bingham, of Salisbury, Conn., 
and a niece of President Eleazer Wheelock of Dartmouth College. 

Dr. Kirkland fitted for college at Andover Academy, living as a beneficiary in 
the house of Lieutenant-Governor Samuel Phillips, and entered Harvard in April. 
1786. He stood high as a scholar, and at his graduation, in 1789, delivered the 
Latin salutatory oration, then the second part in point of honor. After spending 
a year as an usher at Andover, he began the study of divinity with Rev. Stephen 
We4, of Stockbridge, Mass. The latter's religious views were, however, too ex- 
travagant for him, and he returned to Cambridge, where, while studying for the 
Unitarian ministry, he was a tutor in metaphysics. 

In August, 1793, he first preached as a candidate at the New South Church, in 
Boston, and was ordained over that society, 5 February, 1794. He immediately 
took high rank as a writer and preacher, and until the ordinations of William Ellery 
('banning, in 1803, and of Joseph Stevens Buckminster, in 1805, had no rival in 
the pulpit in Boston. But his social powers were perhaps more remarkable than 
his talents as a preacher, and he was distinguished for his conversational abilities, 
readily adapting himself to all classes of society. He dined out so often, that many 
wondered how he could find time to write his sermons; but these were often repeated, 
and it was not uncommon for him to take into the pulpit a number of sermons, 
and turning the leaves backwards and forwards, to construct a new one as he went 
along. "The characteristic which marked him out from other men, and made 
him one of the most conspicuous persons of the age. was the marvellous union of 
intellectual force and faculties, surpassed by none, with the most simple and un- 



1(58 American Antiquarian Society. 

Professor Peck, 1 Rev. T. M. Harris, Rev. Dr. Bancroft, 
Judge Bangs, and a number of others were present. ( )fficers 



assuming manners, and a universal and unfailing kindness. Thoroughly disinterested 
he had no capacity for meanness.'' 

On the death of President Webber, in 1810, Dr. Kirkland was unanimously 
elected the fourteenth president of Harvard University. "If you wish to elevate 
the University to the highest degree of prosperity of which it is susceptible," said 
George Cabot .just before, "elect Dr. Kirkland for its President. Choose any other 
man, and it will remain on the same dead level to which it has for so long a time 
descended." This prophecy was amply fulfilled. In his administration a new 
impulse was given to its reputation; the number of students was greatly increased; 
men of the first talents were called into the instruction and government of the 
college; the course of study was greatly enlarged; the law school established; the 
medical school reorganized; large additions made to the library; and three new 
college buildings were erected. On the completion of Universty Hall, 1 November, 
1814, the President dedicated it by a short address and prayer, and then, for the 
first time, religious exercises were appointed to be held in the chapel for the students 
exclusively. 

Dr. Kirkland's services to the University in removing deep-rooted prejudices, 
cannot be over-estimated. In his government he was thought by many to be too 
lenient, but he was generally beloved by the students. 

In August, 1827, he was .suddenly seized wth paralysis, which disabled him from 
officiating at Commencement, but did not prevent his marriage on 1 September 
following, to Elizabeth, daughter of George Cabot of Boston. 

A few months later, Nathaniel Bowditch, one of the overseers, expressed his 
dissatisfaction of the fiscal condition of the University so strongly, that Dr. Kirk- 
land and Judge John Davis, the treasurer, resigned. 29 March, 1828, an event which 
caused great excitement among the friends of Harvard. 

After this he travelled both in this country and in Europe, but without essential 
benefit to his health, and both his physical and mental powers, affected by his 
illness, gradually declined. 

Dr. Kirkland received the degree of A.M. from Dartmouth in 1792, and from 
Brown in 1794; that of S.T.D. from Princeton in 1802; and that of LL.D. from 
Brown in 1810. lb' was vice-president of the American Academy of Arts and 
Sciences, and a member of the Massachusetts Historical and the American Antiqua- 
rian Societies. 

(Morn, Herkimer, N". V., 17 August, 1770. Died, Boston, 24 April, 1840. | 

1 William Dandridge Peck, the son of John Peck, a noted American ship-builder 
of t he Revolutionary period, was graduated from Harvard in 1782, anil for a time 
was in business in Boston. In 17N">, discouraged by the business disappointments 
of his father, he retired with him to a small farm near Kittery, and took up the 
sturly of natural history. Here he remained in comparative obscurity for twenty 
years, devoting himself to his investigations in botany and entomology, though 
under 'great disadvantages, as he could find no associates to sympathize with him 
in In- labors. He inherited his Father's mechanical ingenuity, and constructed 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 169 

were chosen and the Society organized — I was elected 
President. 1 Mr. Soper arrived at Worcester in the Stage 
from Newyork — next morning went to Boston. 

20. Left Boston at 11 "Clock with Judge Bangs and 
D r . Bancroft — dined with Mrs. Ewers at Newton Falls- 
all lodged at Eaton's in Framingham. 

21. Proceeded on our Journey at 7 "Clock this morn- 
ing — breakfasted in Westborough — arrived at Worcester 
to dine. M r . Fogg arrived this Evening from Boston — 
he came to take Miss Calef home. 

22. Went to Church twice. M r . Nash preached. Mr 
Nash, Mrs. Seaver, and Mr. Fogg dined with me. 

23. Miss Calef and Mr. Fogg went to Leominster. 

24. Mr. Soper came up from Boston. Miss Calef and 



the most delicate instruments necessary for his researches. "We shall never forget," 
said one who was with him at the time, "the astonishment of one of the first op- 
ticians in London, when Mr. Peck requested him to supply a glass which had been 
lost out of a microscope made by himself." In 1805, to bring his talents and acquire- 
ments into notice and greater usefulness, his friends raised a subscription for a 
chair of natural history at Harvard, and he became its first professor, though with 
the greatest reluctance, as his long seclusion had made him averse to accept so 
conspicuous a position. Shortly after, the college sent him to investigate the 
scientific institutions of Europe, and during his trip he collected a large number 
of rare books and specimens for his department. In 1818 he published a catalogue 
of American and foreign plants. 

Professor Peck married, in 1810, Harriet, daughter of Rev. Timothy Hilliard, 
of Cambridge. 

He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member 
of the Massachusetts Historical, the American Philosophical and the American 
Antiquarian Societies. 

[Horn, Boston, Mass., 8 May, 17G3. Died, Cambridge, Mass., 3 October, 1S22.1 
1 The members present at this meeting were Isaiah Thomas, Rev. John Thornton 
Kirkland, Edward Bangs, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Prof. William Dandridge Peck, 
Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, Benjamin Russell, Ebenezer Turell Andrews, Dr. 
Bedford Webster and Isaiah Thomas, Jr. The officers chosen were: Isaiah Thomas, 
President: William D. Peck, Vice-President; Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris, Corres- 
ponding Secretary; and Samuel M. Burnside, Recording Secretary. The Presi- 
dent, Judge Bangs, Dr. Bancroft, Timothy Bigelow and Professor Peck were 
appointed a committee to draw up regulations and by-laws; and the four officers 
were appointed councillors. 



170 



American Antiquarian Society. 



Mr. Fogg returned from Leominster. Miss Calef and Mr. 
Fogg went to a ball at Jennison's — 2 miles. 

25. Mr. & Mrs. Super, Miss Calef and Mr. Fogg all 
returned to Boston in 2 Chaises. 

26. Thanksgiving — went to Chh. Young Goddard dined 
with me. 

27. Had the hip gout. 

28. Sat out for Boston in the Stage — 9 passengers — 
dined in Framingham — arrived at Boston at 7 "Clock 
Eveng. Lodged at Mr. Soper's. 

29. Did not go out. Had the hip gout. Miss Calef came 
and spent the day at M r . Soper's. Dr. Thayer dined there. 

30. Corporation Meeting of the Turnpike. Dined at 
Stone's Tavern 1 in Boston. Directors reduced to 3. I 
was again chosen. Hip gout continues. 

'Jonas Stone was the landlord of the "White Lyon," or "Lion Tavern" at 2-1 
Newbury [Washington] street. Although this house was of no especial historical 
interest, it formed, with the "Lamb" and "White Horse," a little group of taverns 
between West and Boylston streets, which was one of the well-known features 
of the provincial period. In 1789, it was known as the "Turk's Head." It later 
passed into the possession of the Handel and Haydn Society, which used it for the 
performance of oratorios, under the name of the "Melodeon." In 1835, it was 
converted into an amphitheatre, called the "Lion Theatre," ami in 1844 was re- 
christened the "Melodeon." 







Money receh 


•ed. 




5. 


Borrowed at Hank, 


300.00 




Rent, 


55.00 


9. 


do. of I-:. Bangs, 


150.00 


24. 


Borrowed at Bank, 


300.00 


16. 


Rec d of Sam 1 . M. Burnside 


00.00 


27. 


Store, 


9.00 


20. 


Store, 


9.00 


28. 


Store, 


1.00 






Cash paid away. 




4. 


Taxes in part, 


47.57 


14. 


Levi, 


1.00 


5. 


Shoemaker, 


4.00 


l(i. 


Mrs. T., 


30.00 




Sundries, 


(i.OO 


17. 


Paid Stowell, 


15.00 


7. 


Paid Mr. Hangs, 


50.00 


19. 


Expences to <V- from Bos 


ton. 12.00 




Paid Burbank's Note, 


197. 110 




Pd. for Hoots, 


8.50 




Levi, 


.48 


21. 


No. 10 Cyclopedia, 


3.00 


9. 


I'aid i lerry in part of Note, 


30.00 




Oats 2.00 Goods 55, 


57.00 




do. for ( >at> (i buslis., 


:;.no 




(lifts, 


2.00 




M. B., 


5.00 


24. 


M. B.'s board. 


5.00 




Sundries in family. 


5. 00 


25. 


Levi, 


1. 10 




Mrs. T., 


10.00 




Spectacles, 


7.00 




Paid McFarland For labor 


3.00 


26. 


S,.„t to Mr. Olds, 


200.00 




dci. Judge Paine, 


150.00 


27. 


Familj , 


3.00 


in. 


Sundries in the house, 


1.00 


28. 


Expences t o Bosl on, 


3. 10 




Paid Win. White, 


2.00 


30. 


1 liiiiicr, 


1 .80 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas, 171 

December, 1812. 

1. Attended to Audit Treasurer of Turnpike Corpora- 
tion's Accounts — dined at Stones. 

2. Attended Turnpike Corporation Meeting at Stone's. 
Got some old Books. Hip Gout continues — Went to the 
Sec y . of State's office. 

3. Sat out at 5 "Clock this morn*, in the Stage for 
Worcester — breakfasted in Framingham — Dined at home. 

6. Went to Chh. twice. — Judge Leavit "*& Judge Bangs 
spent the evening with me. 

8. Did not go to Bank. Seymour Sheldon unwell. 

9. A Society of Baptists being formed in Worcester 
M r . Bentley 2 was installed their pastor. Exercises by 
permission were performed in Dr. Bancroft's Church. 3 



1 Jonathan Leavitt, the son of Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, of Heath, Mass., was 
graduated from Yale in 1786, and began to practice law in Greenfield, about the 
year 1790. He was a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas from 1811 to 1821, 
and Judge of Probate for Franklin County from 1814 to 1821. He married Amelia, 
daughter of President Stiles of Yale. 

[Born, Heath, 27 February, 1764. Died, Greenfield, 1 May, 1830.] 

-William Bentley was apprenticed to a baker in Boston at the age of fourteen, 
and at an early age "experienced religion," and joined the First Baptist Church, 
then under the care of Dr. Stillman, but later became a member of Dr. Baldwin's 
Church, through whose influence he decided to enter the ministry. He was licensed 
to preach 3 November, 1806, was ordained as an evangelist in Salem in the follow- 
ing year, and in 1808 became the minister of the Baptist Church in Tiverton, H. I. 
He was a man of very limited education, but through his own efforts he acquired 
great Biblical learning, and his large, commanding figure and impressive voice 
rendered him especially adapted to pioneer work. 

The church in Worcester grew rapidly under his care, but unfortunately differences 
arose between him and some of the influential members of the parish, resulting 
in the expulsion of James Wilson and William Lazell. They, in turn, made il so 
uncomfortable for Mr. Bentley that 30 June, 1815, he asked and received dismission. 
After leaving Worcester he was minister of the Church in VVethersfield, Conn., 
for six years, and then for a number of years was a general missionary and evan- 
gelist in Connecticut, and was subsequently over the Second Baptist Church in 
Middletown. 

[Born, Newport, R. I., 3 March, 1775. Died, Hartford, Conn., 24 December, 1855.] 
3 Up to the year 1795 there were but three Baptists in Worcester, one of whom 
was Dr. John Green, whose father, Dr. Thomas Green, founded the Baptist Church 



172 American Antiquarian Society. 

My son purchased for Books a large quantity of Land 
in Dixmont, Maine, of Joseph & John Dix. 

11. Attended at the bank this morning. 

13. Went to Chh". twice. 

15. Went to the bank — Spent the Evening at M r . Levi 

Lincoln's, jun. 

17. My Son came up from Boston. 
19. My son returned to Boston. 



in Greenville, Leicester, and was imprisoned in the Worcester jail for non-payment 
cif his ministerial dues. In that year James Wilson, a member of the Baptist 
Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in England, came to Worcester, and during the 
following seventeen years occasional meetings were held in his house. But there 
were apparently no new converts, and the death of the three original members 
left him for a time the only Baptist in the town. In the spring of 1812 Elder Caleb 
Green of Newport, R. I., was in Worcester .one Sunday, and wishing to preach, 
Mr. Wilson asked Dr. Austin for the use of his church, which he refused on the 
ground that he was a close communionist. Elder Green however preached in 
Mr. Wilson's house to a large congregation, and from that time meetings were 
held more frequently, in private houses, and in the outlying schoolhouses of the 
town. 

On Sunday, 31 May, Elder William Bentley of Tiverton, R. I., preached three 
sermons in the old schoolhouse on the Common, and between the afternoon and 
evening services baptism by immersion was administered for the first time in 
Worcester, in Colonel Samuel Flagg s mill pond on Green street. These sermons 
called forth an attack from Dr. Austin on the following Sunday, in which he char- 
acterized the Baptists as "a sneaking set who hovered about the suburbs, not 
daring to come into the centre of the town," and according to the records of Mr. 
Wilson "the Rev. Dr. railed against what he was pleased to denominate the audacity 
of the Baptists in approaching the droppings of his sanctuary." 

But in spite of all opposition the society grew steadily, and its numbers were 
increased by several members of the First Parish, who were offended by some 
discourses of Dr. Austin on national and state fasts; and at the formation of the 
church there were twenty-eight members, fourteen men and fourteen women. 
The hall in (he Centre schoolhouse was rented, and on 30 July meetings began to 
be regularly held there. 28 September, Elder Bentley was engaged as minister, 
:it a salary of three hundred dollars and an allowance of four Sundays for visits; 
and 5 November "the Baptist Church in Worcester" was formed, a confession 
of faith adopted, and 9 December fixed as the time for the constituting of the 
church, the reception of fellowship from others, and the installation of the minister. 

Again the use of the Old South Church was asked, and t lie request was granted 
by the selectmen and the parish assessors. On the morning of the installation, 



Diary of Isaiah Tliomas. 17H 

20. Went to Chh. twice. 

22. Attend at Bank. 

23. Attended all day with IX Bancroft & Judge Bangs 
who dined with me, in forming Regulations for A. A. Society. 

24. Paid A. Burbank a note of 204 dols — in Books. 
The Directors of the Worcester Library spent the Evening 
with me. 

25. Spent the Evening at Judge Bangs. 



however. Mr. Wilson received a letter from Dr. Austin, who, with Dr. Bancroft , 
had been invited to dine with the council on that day, saying that he would grate- 
fully acknowledge the invitation as a testimony of Christian affection and confidence, 
if facts did not forbid him to do so; that to treat those who appear to be the real 
people of God with tenderness and fraternal respect, he esteemed to be among 
the first of his duties; but that for several important reasons he could not accept 
the invitation, and expressed the greatest repugnance to the occupation of his pulpit 
for that purpose, declaring it to be "against a full expression of personal feeling, 
the right, and the Christian ministry, the order of Christ s house and the laws of 
the land''; and once for all declared his intention to act in regard to them merely 
on the defensive, and, as he was determined not officiously to interrupt, so he 
wished not to be interrupted, in the prosecution of a work, which had been con- 
signed to him, as he hoped, by the Redeemer of Zion. 

"This fact is the more remarkable," says the National .Eyis, "as Mr. Austin pro- 
fesses a religion, which, so far from teaching us to return evil for good, expressly 
admonishes us to the contrary practice, that of subduing our foes, by heaping 
kindness upon them. It is also worthy of notice, that, notwithstanding Mr. Austin s 
opposition to the Baptists, and his refusal of his pulpit to them, he has himself 
preached in the pulpit of Elder Gano, of Providence, and in that of Elder Baldwin 
of Boston. Yet, so poor was his remembrance of the courtesies he had formerly 
received from others and so loosely did the bands of hospitality sit upon him on 
Wednesday last, that he denied his pulpit even to this very Mr. Gano; and this, 
it seems, he did, without having to resist the troublesome suggestions of delicacy, 

and good manners The solemnities of the day were performed in 

the Meeting House of the Rev. Doct. Bancroft, who, on this, as on every other 
occasion, displayed the most courteous and christian disposition. He was happy 
in granting his pulpit, he attended the services, and dined with the Council at 
the house of James Wilson, Esq." 

The sermon before the Council in the morning was by Elder Joseph Cornell and 
that, in the afternoon by Elder Stephen Gano, minister of the First Baptist Church 
in Providence, R. I., who also gave the right hand of fellowship. 

29 May, 1813, the society began the erection of a meeting-house east of the Com- 
mon, which was dedicated in the following December. 



174 



American Antiquarian Society. 



2 1 . Went to Church twice. 

29. Attended at the Bank — Spent the Even 8 with 

Judge Bangs. 

30. Jos. Callender, from Boston, began printing at the 
bank, new Bills from the plates engraved in New York 
and Philadel*. 



January, 1813. 

1. This evening the Members in Worcester of the 
American Antiquarian Society met and supped with me. 

3. Went to Chh. twice. 

4. Attended Annual Meeting of the Worcester Fire 
Society — and supped with the Society at Sikes's Tavern. 

5. Attended at Bank. 

7. Attended Annual Meeting of the Worcester Library 
Society at Mower's Tavern — was rechosen a Director and 
Librarian. 



Dec. 2. 







C 


ash received. 




2. 


( )f T. & A. 




500.00 




Store. 2.(10 


3. 


A Debt, 




11. I'll 


17. 


Store, 4.90 


4. 


In Store, 




18.50 


18. 


From the Bank, 50.00 


L0. 


In do sundry times, 




5.50 




In Store, 7.4 


12. 


( )f Mr. Burnside, 




1(1.00 




Of Saml. Taylor, 3SO.O0 


1 1. 


Store, 




2.<J5 


26. 


In store, sundry times, 5.0(1 




Do., 




3.08 


31. 


Do., 3.00 


1.'). 


Of the County for Gore 
accl -. 


a 


15.00 










Cash pai 


1 away. 




o. 


for a note I cave for 


a 




14. 


family, 0.84 




pair of horses, 




285.00 


15. 


Pd. John Knower, 6.00 


:\. 


Paid for Silver Pitcher 






Miller, M. B. hoard, 5.00 




& Lamps, 




10. (Ill 


16. 


Paid Or. Bancroft, 81.37^ 




Sundries & Expenses 




is. 


Mrs. Thomas, 2d. 00 




from Boston, 




6.40 




Levi Harry, 4. hi 


I. 


Paid Worcester hank 




250.50 




Paid my note for Howe 




Sundries family, 




1.00 




for work done on t he 




I'd. Bank interest . 




2.50 




Bridge, 25.00 


5. 


I.l'\ i 




0.50 


2 1. 


Paid Hank, 282.00 


7. 


Paid N. Patch, 




25.00 


26. 


Paid Levi. 7.00 


in 


1 ire wood for School, 


& 


!., 1.69 


28. 


Turkies. 152 




Know it. 




3.00 




Barrels. 3.28 


11. 


Levi Harry, 




1.0(1 







Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 17") 

8. Dined with a number of others with Col. Clap. 

10. Went to Chh. twice. 

11. Examined with other Directors the library of the 
Worcester Society. 

12. Attended at the Bank. 

14. Company. Settled with highway Surveyors Bridge 
affairs. This day made a contract with Caleb Burbank of 
Sutton for the purchase of his paper mill in Alstead, N. H. 
on terms of his own proposing. — he got the deed drawn 
and then rather ungentleman like fell back without cause. 

17. Went to Chh. twice. 

18. Gen. Caleb Burbank called on me and after some 
conversation, I purchased his paper mill at Alstead, N. H. 
for 3000 dollars. No sledding in this part of the country 
this season. 

19. Visited the Morning Star Lodge 1 at Hely's Hall, 
by invitation — delivered a short address, and supped with 
them at Mower's, attended at the Bank from 5 to 6 
°Clock. 



'8 February, 1793, Nathaniel Chandler, Charles Chandler, Samuel Chandler 
Clark Chandler, John Stowers, Joseph Torrey, Benjamin Andrews, Samuel Brazer, 
Ephraim Mower, John White and Joseuh Allen, Jr., met at the "Sun Tavern," 
at the corner of Main and Mechanic streets, to take the initiatory step towards 
forming a Masonic lodge in Worcester. Right Worshipful Isaiah Thomas, Past 
Master of Trinity Lodge, in Lancaster, was elected Master, and it was voted to 
petition the Grand Lodge for a charter of a lodge, to be known as "The Morning 
Star Lodge." This was granted 25 March, and the lodge was consecrated 11 June, 
by Most Worshipful Grand Master John Cutler, and officers of the Grand Lodge 
of Massachusetts, among them being Paul Kevere, Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris 
and Benjamin Russell. The members of the lodge present were Right Worshipful 
Isaiah Thomas, Master; Nathaniel Paine, Senior Warden; Samuel Chandler, Junior 
Warden; Benjamin Andrews, Senior Deacon; Joseph Torrey, Junior Deacon; 
John Stanton, Treasurer; John Stowers, 1 >t Steward; Ephraim Mower, 2nd 
Steward; Eli Gale, Tyler; and Joseph Allen, Jr., Joseph Trumbull, J. White, Clark 
Chandler, Helyer Tanner, Nathaniel Chandler, J. Peirce, J. IV Dunbar, Samuel 

Brazer, Samuel Andrews, — ■ Whitney, Thomas Chandler, Gardiner L. Chandler 

and Koger Vose. After the consociation a procession was formed and marched 



1 < 6 American Antiquarian Society. 

21. My brother and his wife came to sec me. A number 
of Gentlemen my friends and acquaintance, dined with me. 

22. Thirteen Gentlemen, my neighbors dined with me. 
My brother returned to Lancaster — his wife remained with 
us. 

24. Went to Chh. twice. Judge Sedgwick dined. 

25. My Son's wife delivered of a Son. Sent some 
Articles to my daughter by a young man living in my 
house in St. Albans. 

26. Attended at the Bank. 

31. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Nash preached. 

February, 1813. 

1. Went in the sleigh to Boston. Dr. Bancroft, and 
Mr. Burnside accompanied me. We sat out at 11 "Clock, 
and arrived in Boston at 8 in the Evening. Lodged at 
my Son's. 

3. Attended Meeting of the Antiquarian Society. — a 
number of Gentlemen admitted members — and a number 



from Masons' Hall to the North Meeting House, where a sermon was delivered 
by Rev. Aaron Bancroft. Until the erection of Healy's Hall, the regular meetings 
were held at the Exchange Hotel. 

Morning Star lodge continued to he an active organization until the Anti-Masonic 
agitation from 1828 to 1835, when, in common with many lodges throughout the 
country, it was dormant. It again became active in 1842, and continues to the 
present time. Among its early masters were William Caldwell, Benjamin Heywood, 
James Wilson, Ephraim Mower, Cider William Bentley and Christopher Columbus 
Baldwin. Mr. Thomas w;'s always prominent in the organization, and was twice 
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. John Quincy Adams called 
him the "archdevil of Masonry," and in his diary 20 September, 1^2ti, in describing 
a conversation with Alexander 11. Everett relating to the Anti-Masonic party, 
in which the latter speaks (if the Masonic power as "altogether unaccountable, 

considering in how low estimation it had been held before the controversy," says: 
"I told him 1 thought it might easily be accounted for. The power had formerly 
operated without being seen, bul it might be traced to [saiah Thomas, of Worcester 
and through him to Benjamin Russell, many years publisher of the Boston Sentinel. 
They were printers, and made fortunes, Thomas a very large one, by their types. 
I'll \ made Freemasons of all their apprentices and journeymen." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



177 



more proposed — Completed the choice of Officers. 1 Dined 
with E. T. Andrews with Dr. Bancroft. 

4. Dined with Mr. Soper as did Dr. Thayer. Anson 
Whipple came to Boston. 



'The members elected at this meeting were Col. George Gibbs, of Boston, nomi- 
nated by Major Russell; Oliver Fiske, of Worcester, nominated by Dr. Hani-; 
Rev. Joseph McKean, of Cambridge, nominated by Mr. Thomas; Dr. John Green, 

of Worcester, nominated by Mr. Thomas; Rev. William Bentley, of Salem, nomi- 
nated by Judge Bangs; Hon. Judge (John) Davis, of Boston, nominated by Dr. 
Kirkland; Rev. William Jenks, of Bath, nominated by Major Russell; Rev. 
Abiel Holmes, of Cambridge, nominated by Professor Peck; and Rev. Dr. Morse, 
of Charlestown, nominated by Mr. Andrews. The officers elected were Dr. William 
Paine second vice-president; Timothy Bigelow, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Edward 
Bangs, Col. George Gibbs, Rev. William Bentley, Bedford Webster and Benjamin 
Russell, councillors; Levi Lincoln, Jr., treasurer; Ebenezer T. Andrews, assistant 
recording secretary; and Rev. William Jenks. assistant corresponding secretary. 
"The President, Isaiah Thomas, Esq r . presented the Society with a large and 
valuable collection of Books, estimated at $4,000.00, after making the usual de- 



Jan. 2. 

2 to 5. 

11. 

10 & 17. 
20. 



Jan. 1. 



IS. 
20. 



Cash received. 



Cash — in Store, 2.50 

Do. Do., 3.00 

" of Worcester Library 
Co., . 21. ti- 

St ore. Slid 

Do., :\:.i7\ 



28. 



( 'a-h paid away. 



J. Robinson bill oil & 

paint, 1). 9.29 

Weighing hay.it Butcher, 1 .82 
Frazier, 0.50 

Post office quarterly 

bill, 6.69 

Geer s note [now due 75 

dols.1, 5.14 

Fire Club, 2.00 

Mr. Waldo a account. 25. I 1 
Beef & Oysters, 1.25 

Butcher, & Teamster, 

twice, &c., 3.00 

Beef and Mutton, 2.25 

Paid for paint, bought 

in Lancaster, 1 7.02A 

Levi, 5.00 

Turkies, 2.40 

Mrs. T., (i.00 

Ringing Bell, .10 

12 



25. 



20. 
28. 



29. 

30. 



Do., 2.00 

Rent in Boston, 217.00 

Cash of Company in 

Boston, 500.00 

Cash, Store, at twice, 4.25 
Store, 2.37* 



M. B. board delivered 

Mr. M's son, 5.00 

Paid Mr. Brown, 15.00 

Mutton & Sundries — 

Charles Shoes, 2.87 

2 Cords of Wood, 5.00 

Paid Bank, 603. 10 

Mrs. Thomas, 20.00 

Mrs. Simmons, A-r. 1.50 

Wood —3 cords, 7.50 

Do., 5.82 

Bank 15 dols. Levi 2 

dolls, meat 1 18.00 

Wood & meat. 7.12 

Mrs. Parker, 5.00 

Wood. 5.00 

Do., -4.X7* 

Do. 2.17 

Postage for the year 

past about, 28.00 



17* American Antiquarian Society. 

5. Returned to Worcester. Dr. Bancroft, his daughter 
Eliza 1 and Mr. Burnside accompanied me in the sleigh- 
good sleighing — 9 hours or our journey. Left my Certifi- 
cates for ,a new Loan. 

(i. My brother's wife, having paid us a visit of 15 
days, went to SterKng on her return home, in the sleigh, 
accompanied by our housekeeper Mrs. Frazier. 

7. Went to Chh. twice. 



duction of 20 per Cent from the first appraised Value; the saiil books being enu- 
merated and described in a written catalogue, presented therewith. — 

Thereupon, 
Voted unanimously, that t he thanks of the Society be presented to the President, 
For ihe valuable present, this day made by him to the Society." 

Levi Lincoln, Jr., and Samuel M. Burnside were appointed a committee to receive 
from the president a deed of conveyance of the books; and he was requested to 
retain them in his possession, until a suitable place should be provided for them; 
and the president, Levi Lincoln, Jr., Benjamin Russell, Elijah H. Mills and Lbenezer 
T. Andrews were appointed a committee to consider and report upon the most 
eligible means for raising a fund for the society. 

'Eliza, the daughter of Aaron and Lueretia Chandler Bancroft, was married 
to John Davis, 28 March, 1822. 

The eldest daughter of a family of thirteen children, many household cares devolved 
upon her in her early years, and in addition to these, she helped out her father's 
small income by keeping a store in a little room built on the north side of his 
house, on Main street. 

After her marriage, Mr. Davis's public life brought with it a more conspicuous 
position for her, and in the years that he held the executive office, when their finan- 
cial circumstances were not the most ample, the composure and simplicity with 
which she presided over the household, lent to it a dignity which was superior to 
pomp anil ostentation. While he was in die Senate much of her time was spent 
>n Washington, where she was a universal favorite. "Life at the capital was not 
altogether tin- same as now." wrote Governor Bullock, at the time of her death. 
"In social official life there was at that time less of the glittering nothingness, and 
extravagances, less of rejection of interesting occupation anil -erinus affection, 
which blast the summit of human fortune with perpetual barrenness. The memory 
..I Mr-. Washington still lingered in the official circles. Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. 
Madison still lived and passed their winters there, in llieii simple, ungarish way. 
Among such Mrs. Davis found congenial place and took natural rank, not unlike 
the three who have Keen mentioned, not inferior to either of them, according |m 

all accounts quite resembling Mrs. Madison, whom it was said everybody loved, 
who gave a character i" the White House winch n has not uniformly kept since. 
Vmong all the scenes of historical interest of that period, Mr. Clay was alike in the 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 170 

8. Anne Sheldon — slight Fever — had a Doctor. 

9. Attended at the Bank. Barracks 1 applied for. 

10. Attended at the Hank. Seymour went to Provi- 
dence with Win. Goddard. 

11. Moses Thomas and his son paid us a visit. Seymour 
returned from Providence. 

12. David Curtis our neighbor died. My daughter, 
Mrs. Simmons delivered of a Daughter. 

14. Went to Chh. twice. Mary Stratton went to 
Ilolden. 

15. Settled an Account of 823 dollars, with Clark 



Senate ami the drawing room the recognized chief and favorite. It waa he who 
said that, all things considered, Mrs. Davis was the foremo i woman at Washington." 

Although she retired from the more active social duties after the death of Mr. 
Davis, her interest in them never abated, ami always delighting in the companion- 
ship of the young, was never happier than when promoting their pleasures. Her 
time was given largely to patriotic and philanthropic benevolence. Throughout 
the Civil War she was untiring in her efforts for the relief of the soldiers, and for 
a year after she was stricken down, she directed the completion of'one of her under- 
takings in their behalf. 

"Her life has, for forty years," continued Governor Bullock, "been one of public 
distinction, so to speak, conspicuous by no means chiefly in the reflected light of 
her eminent father, or more eminent husband and brother, but rather in her own 
individuality of moral and intellectual excellence. It is her own example and 
influence, her own character and reputation, which have gladdened and embellished 
every circle she moved in, and which will long be remembered in this city as having 
placed her at the head of her sex among the social forces of the past and present 
generation. . . . An uncommonly correct judgment, a lively imagination, 
a most charitable disposition, a generous way of thinking, an elevation of character, 
a perceptivity thai had a tinge of t ho poetic, a warmth and tenderness of affection, 
conferred the strength and grace, which properly combined, are a crown to the 

besl of womanh I. One who was during a considerable period a resident in her 

household, may be permitted to recall, that in the Utmost lice lorn of daily con- 
versation there was that absolutely invariable kindness of remark upon others, 
which cannot always be a gift, but must sometimes be a conquest, — and then it 
is the highest of mortal triumphs. And her manners were must gracious." 
[Born, Worcester, 17 February, L791. Die 1, Worcester, 2 1 January, 1S72.] 

1 This probably refers to a recruiting office which was opened in Worcester at 
this time. 



ISO 



American Antiquarian Society. 



Whittemore, principally for binding old hooks and news- 
papers. 

17. Seymour & Levi went to Sutton. .Mrs. Sever on 
a visit. 

18. Settled with Calvin Foster. 

21. Went to Chh. twice. 

22. My son and his daughter Mary Rebecca came up 
from Boston. 

23. Attended at Bank. Mary Stratton returned. 

24. Mr. Soper went through this place on his way to 
Albany. Had a present of a Salmon Trout weighing 9 lb. 

25. A number of Gentlemen, neighbors and friends, 
dined with me, had 2 haunches of Venison &c. 

27. My son and granddaughter returned to Boston in 
the Stage. 

28. Went to Chh. twice. W. T. Andrews & Wm. 
Andrews came in the Stage from Boston on their way to 
Litchfield. 



Cash reed. Feb. 
In the Store from the 



1" to the 6 th , 
From the Company in 



11.00 



10. 



Boston, 
I >o. Loan Office, 
From Rice — Kent. 
Ticket, 
Store, 



Mrs. Thomas, 

Expenses to Boston, &c 

Paid Ethridge, (left 

wit h my Son for Cal- 

IllCt , 

Encyclopedia, 



500.00 
46.23 

31.50 
7.1)0 
9.67 

Cash paid aw; 

10.00 
6.62 



1813. 

11. 

12. 
13. 

10. 
18. 



Do., 10.75 

Do., 1.00 

Do., 3.75 

Interest, J. W. Lincoln, 9.90 

Cash in Store, 3. 50 

Cash of Foster & Store, 3.12 

Do. in Store. 2.00 



12.00 
0.00 



Paid, Williams £ Moore, 64.42 

Hay, 36.70 

Sliocs, ( 'hades, 1 ,75 

\Y I, 2.02 

Mrs. T., 2.3S 

Mrs. Frazier, L0.00 

Nathan Patch, 5.00 

< 'ash pd. Knower, I 5.35 

1),,. Hank. 50.011 



IS. 

1'). 

20. 

2 1 
20. 



Wood, 4.83 

Do., 9.57 

Do., 7.00 

Mrs. Thomas, 18.00 

Wood, 1.34 
P«. Interest of I IS. 50 

months to M' .Waldo, 13.46 
Pd. M r . Bangs, cash 

horn. we. I, 150.00 

Postage, .34 

Butcher, 2. SO 

Oats 10 l.ushs., 20. SO 

Eggs .V- Sugar, 2.87 

Wood, Poultry, pork, 0.90 

Asa l'lagg, 10.00 






Dlari/ of Isaiah Thomas. 181 

March, 1813. 

2. Attended at Hank. Mrs. Putnam A: Mrs. Seaver 
spent the day. 

3. Charles went to Leicester. Snow storm. 

4. Sent a man and team to assist in opening Turnpike 
road. Turnpike ('or}). Dr. To a man and team to open 
road. Democrats celebrated the day on Mr. Madison's 
reelection to the Presidency — in Worcester by ringing the 
bells, firing of Cannon, & a dinner. 

6. Mr. Soper brought me a Saddle of Venison from 
Albany. 

7. Went to Chh. once. Finished reading MS: — Why 
are you a Christian? or the Jew's Question, &c. 

8. Went to Town meeting. — Court of Sessions began. 

9. Dined with Daniel Waldo, with the Directors of 
the Bank, &c. 

11. Paid Daniel Waldo on ace*, of the Bridge, for the 
town 165 dollars, which I have received nothing for. — also 
paid him 600 dollars of a debt of the late Wm. Caldwell 
for which I was bound, and for which I shall never receive 
a cent. 

12. Court of Sessions ended. 

14. Went to Chh. twice. 

15. Some of the Antiquarian Society met at my house — 
Supper — Venison. Attended at Bank. 

Hi. Various Company all day — Moses Thomas, Wife 
and daughter, visited us from Sterling. 

18. My friend Wm. (loddard, 1 Printer, aged 72 paid 



1 William Goddard, the son of Dr. Giles Goddard, a physician and postmaster 

at New London, Conn., served his apprenticeship with James Parker, a printer 
in New York, and in 1762 opened the first printing office in Providence, K. I. Soon 
after he began the publication of the Providence Gazette and Country Journal, the 



1X2 American Antiquarian Society. 

me a visit from Providence with his son 1 — he came the 
L5th and returned home this morning. My nephew, wife 
and daughter returned home. My week at the Hank. 

19. Court of Com. Pleas ended. 
21. Went to Chh. twice. 

20. Attended at the Bank. Sledding ended. Fine 
Spring like weather. This Winter has been remarkable for 



only newspaper printed in that place previous to 1775, but this not proving as 
successful as he had anticipated, he left the office in the care of his mother, and 
for a time was associated with John Holt in the publication of Parker's Gazette 
and Post Boy in New York. After the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, lie went 
to Philadelphia, and with Joseph Galloway and Thomas Wharton, published the 
Pennsylvania Chronicle, his partners furnishing the capital. They, however, were 
strongly attached to the ministerial measures, and trouble arose which resulted 
in Goddard's removing to Baltimore in 1773. Here he again began a newspaper, 
The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, the third attempted in the province; 
but at this time there was only one other published. About this time he became 
interested with Mr. Thomas, who was then publishing the Massachusetts Spy in 
Boston, John Holt, of New York. Thaddeus Burr, of Fairfield, Conn., and others, 
in a plan to abolish in effect the general post-office under the direction of the British 
government, and to establish an opposition line of post-riders from New Hamp- 
shire to Georgia. The enterprise was to be supported by private individuals, and 
giving the management of his office and paper to his sister Katherine. he devoted 
his time to canvassing the country for subscriptions. The scheme was nearly 
completed, and the greater part of the money raised, when the Revolution broke 
out. After the establishment of the Continental post-office, he was appointed 
surveyor of post-roads, by Franklin, but when the latter went to France, he was 
disappointed in not obtaining the office of secretary and comptroller of the post 
office, which he had before expected at its establishment. He resigned in 177(1 
and returned to Baltimore, but several articles in hi- paper, written by General 
Charles Lee, gave such offence to the Whigs, that he was several times mobbed, and 
was eventually compelled to leave the town. lie was variously employed until 
1784, when he resumed Ids printing office and continued in business until 1792. 
lb- then retired to a large farm in Johnston, I!. I., and subsequently lived in Provi- 
dence. 

[Horn, New London, 174(1. Died, Providence. '_':; December, 1817.1 

'William Giles Goddard was graduated from Brown in L812, was professor of 
moral philosophy and metaphysics at Brown from 1825 to 1834, and of rhetoric 
and belles lettrcs from 1834 to 1842. He was the editor and proprietor of the 
Rhode Island American from 1814 to 1825. 

[Born, Johnston, R, I., 2 January, 1794. Died, Providence, 10 February, 1846.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



L83 



the spotted and for a malignant fever prevailing in many 

parte of the Country — Many died. 

24. Isaiah Thomas Andrews came on a visit. 

28. Rain, steadily all day. Went twice to Chh. Travel- 
lino- very bad. Water in the brooks, &c. rose very high. 

2<). The water rose high in the brook on the night of 
the 29 th , and the water gate of the mill dam, under the 
hatter's shop not being raised, — the water carried off a 
necessary house, which came down the stream to the bridge 
and got fixed in the arch at the head of the bridge; the 
current being thus checked, forced its way thro a small 
passage undermined the foundation, and four feet of it 
fell — the water flowed over the road and carried away 
not less than 100 loads of gravel in the goal yard between 
the goaler's house and the goal — the cellars adjacent were 
filled with water. 

30. Attended at the bank. 

31. Bought two wild ducks — Subscribed, by request, to 
a ball to be given on Supreme Court week — and in a new 
hall in the tavern adjoining the bank. 



Cash received. 



Mar. 2. Foster paid, I) 1.00 

3. Store, L.5fl 

11. Mortgage on the Land 
where the black- 
smiths Shop stands in 
Thomas Street, 514.00 

Rent of Williams, 00.00 

Do. of Heed, 40.00 

St < ire & Pew Rent of Terry, 9.50 
13. Store 1 dol r . Interest of 

J. Goulding 15.45, Hi. or, 

( 'ash paid away 
5. Sundries for family, 3.00 

10. E. S. Geer, 11.68 

11. Ringing Hell, .50 
1). Waldo, 51 l.l Ml 

12. Levi 0.25 Fish 0.25 Beef 

1.80, 2.30 

15. Sundries, 1.00 

Bank, 38.00 
19. Paid a Note for Rebecca 

Parkers house, 53.38 



15. Do., 

16. Do., 
IS. Cash received, Iient of 

Barracks, 
Do. Duncan's Note, 
Do. of Thomas & 
Andrews, 
20. Part of an Execution 

against Stiles tor Rent, 50.111 
23. Rent of Land to Jacol 



6.00 
3.99 



10. (HI 

L3.06 



"iOO.OO 



00 



Paid Butcher, 
20. Buisket and for family. 



5.00 

2.50 



Deposited in the hank. 300.00 

Paid Geer on Note (20 

due), 50.00 

Paid Col. Clap for note. 10.00 

Paid Flagg on Note, 8.00 

White for Wood, 2.34 

Family, sundries, 3.00 

Ducks &c.. loo 



1S4 



American Antiquarian Society, 



April, 1818. 
No Entries. 

May, 1813. 

1. Measles and fever prevalent. 

2. Went to Chh. twice. 

3. Attended town Meeting on business of the Bridge. 

4. Mrs. T. returned from Boston, with my Son, and 
a woman Cook. 

8. Mr. Soper came from Boston — Lamed his horse. 

9. Went to Chh. in the afternoon— My Son & Mr. 
Soper returned to Boston. 

10. Isaiah Thomas Andrews went to Boston. 

Town meeting. Daniel Waldo exerted himself to prevent 
the town paying me about 500 dols. justly my due & 
succeeded. It was money advanced to build the bridge. 

11. Rode out with Mrs. Soper. Sikes added a third 
story to his house. 1 

1 This was the Exchange Hotel, now the oldest public house in Worcester, which 
was buill in 1784, by Nathan Patch, a large real estate holder at that time. Its 







Cash received 


April 5. 


At Hank, dividend. 


325.00 


25. 


11. 


Kent — Boston, 


90.00 




14. 


In Store, 


3.00 


27. 


17. 


State Bank, 


42.00 


28. 


19. 


Kent in Boston, 


911.(1(1 






Store 


2.00 






C 


ash pai 


1 away. 


2. 


Jacob Miller, M. lis 




ii. 




board, 


9.00 






1 louse, 


2.0(1 


1 1. 




Installment State Bank, 


100.00 


17. 


5. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


L5.00 






Tax at Boylston A: Sun- 




20. 




dries, 


2.93 


21. 


7. 


Paid A. Flagg's order, 


8.27 


2:;. 




Do., 


5.00 


2 1. 


10. 


Levi, 

1 barrel of Cyder & 


I.2.", 






barrel (Thaxter), 


3.42 





Rent, place at West 

Boylston, 10.00 

Bent of Webb, 75.00 

Ftenl of Foster, 5. op 

Store, 1.50 



Seed Peas 42 cts. house 

Sundries, 3.00 

Meat, l.5ii 

Cyclopedia, 3. (lit 

Stage fair, 6.00 

Paid Turnpike Treasurer, 70.00 
Paid Flag for hay, 24.50 

Expenses to Newton, 2.90 
Levi 1.1 Jacob Miller 

10.00. 1101 

Taxes at West Boylston, 1.49 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 185 

12. Several persons — (four) have died, in Worcester 
Street with[in] the last ten days of a malignant fever. 
They died in two or three days after they were taken. 

13. Mr. Soper came from and returned to Boston. 
Isaiah Thomas Andrews returned from Boston. Mr. Abbot 
of Holden died of the fever. Received Letters from M r . 
Sheldon at Jamaica. 

14. A black man by the name of Pell died of the pre- 
vailing fever. 



chief historical interest is the prominent, part it played in Shays's Rebellion. For 
nearly half a century it was the leading hotel in the county, where distinguished 
travellers aways stopped, and it was the headquarters for the court and bar during 
court weeks. In 1793 Patch was succeeded by William Barker, who in turn sold 
it to Samuel Johnson, about the year 1803. On the death of the latter, in 1807, 
it came into the hands of Reuben Sikes, of Suffield, Conn., who, with Levi Pease, 
of Shrewsbury, had established the first line of stages from Boston to New York, 
in 1783. It was kept by Sikes until his death, in 1824, and under him it became 
the centre of arrival and departure for all the stages running to and from Worcester. 
For the next sixteen years it was under the management of Samuel B. Thomas, 
and since that time it has passed through many hands, and its popularity has 
gradually waned. 

A lithograph of the house, published about the year 1830, shows a double veranda 
on the southern half of the building; and on the northern half, six large arched 
windows extend through the second and third stories showing that this was the 
large hall where balls and parties were held for so many years. The circular beneath 
the picture states that. 

By SAJHTTEIi B. THOMAS, (the present Proprietor,) 

is one of the largest and most commodious Establishments in the United States. 
The Proprietor pledges himself that the weary Traveller may find quiet Repose 
and comfortable Refreshments at this House. It is provided with BATH ROOMS 
and WATER CLOSETS; and is situated in the centre of the beautiful village of 
Worcester, opposite the New Brick Church, and within a few yards of the Court 
House and Antiquarian Hall, 40 miles from Boston, on the great post road to 
New-York, Albany, and various other important places. This has been long known 
and kept for many years as the only important Stage House in the town, Stages 
moving during the day in almost every direction to and from this place. Extra 
Stages and private Carriages may be had at the shortest notice." 

The house has been known at various times as the "United States Arms"; " Bar- 
ker's Tavern," at the " Sign of the Golden Ball "; " Sikes's Coffee House"; "Sikes's 
Stage House"; "Thomas's Exchange Coffee House"; "Thomas's Temperance 
Exchange"; and the "Exchange Hotel." 



186 American Antiquarian Society. 

15. Mr. Soper, his mother and child, came from Boston. 
Left town in a chaise, at 4 "Clock afternoon arrived at \ 
past ten. 

16. M rs . Soper grew worse. Mr. Bancroft prayed with 
her. Went to Chh. twice. A M r . Johnson died of the 
prevailing fever. 

17. My son went to the District of Maine. Nathan 
Patch my farmer went home the 14 th , unwell. Hired 
another man. Mr. Soper his mother A: child went to 
Boston. 

IS. Rode out with Mrs. Soper. Mr. Soper returned 
from Boston. 

19. PhilMs a woman of Colour died of the prevailing 
fever — Measles are very prevalent — 

20. Mr. Soper went to Boston. Rode out with Mrs. 
Soper. Hired three men and another team to prepare for 
planting. 

21. Hired the same men, who worked with Charles. 
Rode out with Mrs. Soper. 

22. Hired four men, who with Charles finished planting 
Corn, 7 acres. This day rode out with Mrs. S. Patch 
continues sick with the measles. 

23. Went to Chh. twice. M'. Cotton preached. Mr. 
Soper came up from Boston. 

24. Mr. Thayer and Wife came from Braintree to see 
Mrs. Soper. 

25. Mi - . Soper returned to Boston, and Mi'. Thayer & 
wife to Braintree. Simeon Duncan's wife died of the pre- 
vailing Fever. Hired Reed's son for a day — farm. 

26. Election. Worked in the Garden all day— A son 
of Simeon Duncan's died of the prevailing fever. 

27. Finished planting. Frazier unwell. 



Dlcn'f/ of Isaiah Tliomas. 



187 



28. Mary Stratton returned. A girl by the name of 
Flagg died of the prevailing Fever. 

29. Mr. Super came up from Boston, arrived after all 
the family were in bed. Another Negro woman died of 
the fever. The woman Cook, Mrs. T. brought from Boston 
got intoxicated in the Morning and remained so all day. 

30. Mr. & Mrs. Soper went to Leominster this afternoon. 
To go from then 1 tomorrow to Braintree. Dismissed bur 
Woman Cook; and she sat off, willfully, to Boston on foot, 
a white girl and a negro woman who died yesterday of the 
prevailing fever, were buried this day. Went to Chh. 
twice. 

.31. Have a bad cold and am very hoarse. 
June, 1813. 



1. Sat off for Boston this Morning at 5 "Clock — arrived 
there at 2 "Clock with Levi in the Coach. 

2. Frigate Chesapeake went out of Boston harbor 

yesterday to engage the British frigate Shannon ' — great 



1 This was the only engagement fought in the vicinity of Boston during the war, 
and caused the greatest excitement. Rumors of an expected battle early in the day 
had drawn crowds to Boston from the surrounding towns. The bay was covered 
with boats of every description, and many went to Nahant, Salem, Marblehead 



Mav 



May 







Money Rec a 










2, 


Store, 


2.00 




21. 


Store, 




1.50 


12. 


!>"., 


2.00 




27. 


Foster, Rent, 




-1.00 




Mrs. Moore, rent, 


45.00 






Pew Rent of M'. 


Mac- 




17. 


Stiles Rent, in part, 


4.60 






early. 




14.00 




Foster, Rent in part, 


S.(K) 




31. 


Do. of Col. Sikes, 




8.34 




From Mis. Francis, 


15.00 
















Cash pai 


1 away. 








3. 


Family, sundries. 


5.00 




20. 


Oil, &c, 




2.50 




Pigs, 


4.00 




22. 


Family, 




3 00 


6. 


Mrs. T., 


8.00 




25. 


Taxes, 




179.56 


11. 


Taxes in part, 


22.(10 






Paid A. Flagg, 




5.00 




Family, 


-l.(H) 






Sundries, family, 




3.00 


14. 


Paid A. Flagg to war 


Is 




2(i. 


Levi — 




.38 




note. 


11). (Ml 




27. 


Ira M'Tarland foi 


labo 


r, 9.00 




Sundries family, 


2.00 




29. 


Paid the Cook maid, 


4.00 


19. 


Mrs. T., 


5.00 




31. 


Levi, 




5.00 



188 American Antiquarian Society. 

numbers went in boats to see the engagement. Our frigate 
was captured after a short action. Boston greatly agitated 
on account of the issue of the naval action. Attended a 
statute meeting of the Antiquarian Society, admitted 
several as Members. 1 

3. Mrs. Soper came to Boston from Braintree — Visited 
her house — Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. Two more 
persons, Brown a journeyman in our Tanyard, and James 
Davis, a black man, formerly my servant died yesterday 
in Worcester of the fever, and were buried there this morn- 
ing. Have been very hoarse, scarcely able to speak for 
4 days. Visited Mrs. Croker. 

4. Mrs. Soper came to my son's to see me this forenoon. 

5. Rode out to Jamaica Plains with two of my grand 
daughters. Mrs. Soper went to Braintree. I dined with 



and the heights about Boston; but they were all doomed to disappointment, for 
the two vessels, a little after noon, stood out to sea and disappeared from sight. 
Although the pilot who took the Chesapeake out brought back the news of her 
loss, which was confirmed by other witnesses, the people refused to believe it, and 
it was not until the official accounts of her capture and the death of Lawrence reached 
Boston nearly three weeks later, that all hope was abandoned. 

'The by-laws of the society, as adopted 3 February, 1813, required that there 
should be three meetings annually: — in Boston on the twenty-second of December, 
(the annual meeting); in Boston on the first Wednesday in June; and in Worcester 
on the Wednesday next after the first Tuesday in September. In the following 
December the date of the annual meeting was changed to 23 October. A revision 
of the by-laws in October, 1831, provided for two meetings each year; the annual 
meeting in Worcester on 23 October, and a semi-annual meeting in Huston, on 
the last Wednesday in May; the latter date falling in "Anniversary Week," howcv er, 
it was changed in May, 1850, to the hist Wednesday in April. 

The members elected were Dr. David limit, of Northampton; Rev. Samuel 
Cary, of Boston; Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, of Williams College; James Winthrop, 
of Cambridge; Isaac Goodwin, of Sterling; Thomas L. Winthrop, of Boston; 
Samuel J. Prescott, of Boston; Frederick William Paine, of Woroester; President 
John Wheelock, of Dartmouth; James Hugh McCulloch, of Baltimore; Noah 
Webster, Jr., of Amherst; Dr. David Ramsey, of Charleston, S. C; Rev. Timothy 
Alden, of Elizabethtown, N. J.; William Sheldon, of Jamaica: Rev. Joseph Sumner, 
of Shrewsbury; Professor Sidney Willard, of Cambridge; Rev. John I.. Vbbol 
and Nathaniel C. Snelling. of Boston. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 189 

Mr. Thayer. Four persons died in Worcester of the pre- 
vailing fever, yesterday and this day. 

6. Went to Chh. twice. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 

7. Artillery election. 

S. Came from Boston this day — Mrs. Parker my niece 
came on a visit. — Anne Sheldon unwell. My week to attend 
Worcester Bank. 

9. My sister Mrs. MacCulloch arrived from Philadel- 
phia on a visit. 

10. Two of my men worked on the highway. A black 
woman died of the fever. 

12. Sent Levi with the Horses to meet Mrs. Soper and 
bring home a new Carriage. 

13. Went to Chh. twice. 

14. Sent Levi with the horses to Framingham with 
orders to return early in the afternoon of Saturday — he 
did not return till this morning. Bought a new light 
Coach in Boston the 7 th instant. Mr. & Mrs. Soper came 
up from Boston in the new Coach. 

15. Attended at the Bank. 

18. Isaiah Thomas Andrews went to Boston. 

19. Seymour Sheldon went to Thompson. M r . Soper 
came up from Boston. 

20. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Nash preached— he dined 
with me. 

21. Miss Lucy Maccarty died. Seymour Sheldon re- 
turned from Thompson. My brother came from Lancaster. 
Mr. Soper returned to Boston. 

22. Mrs. Thomas my Sister went to Lancaster with 
Levi. — My brother returned home. Put down Stone Posts 
and Iron Chain before the Court house and my house. 



L90 



A ///tried ii Antiquarian Society. 



24. Mrs. Thomas and my Sister returned from Lancaster. 

2(>. Mr. Soper and his eldest Sister came up from Boston, 
with whom came Lawrence to live with me. Dis- 
missed Levi Harry. 

27. Mr. Sumner preached. Went to Chh. twice. A 
child died of the fever. Mr. Soper his wife & two Sisters 
went to Boston. 

28. Sat out for Walpole, with Seymour Sheldon in the 
new Coach, and new Coach man Lawrence. Lodged at 
Fitz William. 

29. Breakfasted in Keene — arrived at Walpole. Sey- 
mour Sheldon went to live with Whipple. 

30. Training in Walpole. Very good artillery Company. 
Henry Reed came to live with me yesterday. 



July, 1S13. 

1. T. K. Thomas (Admin'r of the estate of Alex'' 
Thomas) came to Walpole to settle Concerns of the late 
Firm of Thomas & Thomas, disagreeable business. Isaiah 
Thomas Andrews came up from Boston. 

2. Engaged in settlement. Drank Tea with Gen. 







Cash receivei 


. 






June -■'. 


of Mr. Sheldon, 


150. 00 






St. ire, 


3.00 


7. 


( )f the Company ii 






i."). 


!>".. 


l.oo 




Boston, 


300.00 




2(5. 


St inc. 


5.00 




of I. T. jun., 


1.50 






Money lent (rec*), 


1 1.00 


11. 


lice 1 , of Williams Kent 


50.00 












( 


'ash paii 


1 away. 






1. 


Turnpike ami <>i her Ex 








Expenses mi Road, 


2. SO 




penses. 


L.50 




9. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 


2. 


Agricuh ural Society, 


2.00 






I. '1'. Andrews, 


6.00 


:i. 


Watch repaired 


1.00 




1 1. 


Pd. A. Flagg, 


10. Oil 




Miss Arms! rong, 


21.00 




12. 


Paid Worcester Bank, 


354.00 


4. 


Barber dressing, 


0.75 




14. 


Paid Nathan Patch. 


50 on 


5. 


Mrs. Thomas, 1 " day, 


5.00 




17. 


Do. !. '1'. Amlii WS, 


."i.OO 




Levi in Boston, 


3.00 






Family, Sundries, 


:;,on 


7. 


1 Granges & Lemons, 


1.00 




2 1. 


Do. Do-., 


1.00 




( iifts, 


2.00 




2.",. 


Williams, blacksmith, 


4.00 


V 


Fish. 


1.00 




29. 


Expences to Walpole, 


5.00 



Dia )';/ of Isaiah. Thomas. L91 

Allen. Mrs. Goddard came up from Providence on a visit 
to see ns. Began mowing — 

3. Went to Alstead to see paper Mill I lately purchased. 
Liked the Mill and its situation better than I expected. 
8 hands at work. M'. T. K. T. and myself disagreed about 
our concerns respecting the late firm. My son and Wife 
came to Worcester. 

4. Finished after a disagreeable Trial the concerns of 
the late firm, with T. K. T. 

5. Sat off from Walpole. Rode 00 miles in the Coach 
to Lancaster — Lodged at my Brother's. My Son & Wife 
returned from Boston. 

0. Returned home. 

S. Company in the Evening. 

0. Miss M. Burns went to Boston. 

10. Mrs. Goddard returned to Providence accompanied 

by Anne Sheldon. 

11. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Foster 1 of Rutland 
preached. 

12. Mrs. Thomas & Mrs. M c Culloch went to Boston in 
the Coach. Finished hilling Corn. 

13. Attended at the Bank. Finished working in the 
Garden. Have worked steadily in the Garden when at 
home, for 4 weeks past. 

10. Died my adopted daughter Elizabeth Mary Soper, 
aged 2'A\ years. She was the daughter of my brother 
Peter Thomas of South Hempstead Long island. 

17. Went to Boston with Judge Bangs in a chaise. Left 
the family in care of Mrs. Frazier. 

18. Went to Chh. at the Chapel. Mrs. Soper was this 



•Rev. I.uke Baldwin Foster, minister of the church in Rutland from February, 
1813, to his death 23 May. 1817. 



1 1»2 Am&iHcan Antiquarian SociH;/. 

day buried in Braintree, in a tomb. She died in Braintree 

at the house of her mother in law. In the afternoon went 
with Mrs. T. my sister and son & family to attend the 
funeral which was very respectable. 

19. Sat out for Worcester in a Chaise with Judge Bangs, 
at 10 °Clock, but on account of heavy rain got no farther 
than Framingham, where we lodged. 

20. Breakfasted at Westboro', arrived at home at 11 
"Clock forenoon. 

21. Mrs: Thomas returned from Boston with my Sister 
and Miss Armstrong— and Sarah Stickney a little girl to 
live with us. 

22. Levi Harry, a Negro who has been 17 years in my 
service as a coachman, died after 4 or 5 days illness. 

23. Lawrence my Coachman went to Boston, to carry 
down a horse and to bring up one left there. 

24. Levi Harry buried. Myself & family attended 
funeral. Rev. Mr. Thayer, 1 of Lancaster, lodged with us. 

25. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Thayer preached and 
dined with us. 



1 Nathaniel Thayer, the son of Rev. Ebenezer and Martha Cotton Thayer, of 
Hampton, N. H., was fitted for college in the first class at Phillips Kxeter Academy, 
and was graduated from Harvard in 1789. He studied for the ministry under 
Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Medford, and soon after his approbation, he preached as a 
candidate at the church on Church (Ireen, Boston, and received a majority "f the 
votes of the proprietors for settlement. His active ministry commenced at Wilkes- 
barre, Penn., where he lived for a year in the family of Timothy Pickering, Secretary 
..f War during Washington's administration, 9 October, 1793, he was ordained 
over the church in Lancaster, as colleague to Rev. Timothy Harrington, whom 
he succeeded two years later. A melodious voice of great compass and flexibility, 
which gave great impressiveness to his discourses, and liis- wisdom in church polity, 
made him long regarded as one of the leaders of his denomination in the county, 
lie died suddenly at Rochester, in the summer of 1840, while on a journey with 
his daughter through New York State. 

Dr. Thayer received the degree of I). I). fn>m Harvard in 1X17. lie married 
22 October, 1795, Sarah, daughter of Christopher Toppan, of Hampton. 

[Born, Hampton, N. 11., 11 July, 1709. Died, Rochester, N.Y., 23 .lime, 1840.] 



Did)';/ of /said// Thomas. 



193 



26. Lawrence my Coachman returned from Boston. 

28. Attended to the Revision of my will. 

2!). Bathed this Evening. 

.'!(). Get in two Loads of Rye. 

31. Got in 4 loads of grain — In all 6 Loads or 105 Stakes. 
Mr. Soper and his sister Rachel arrived this Evening from 
Boston. Henry Heed went homo the 29 th . 

August, 1813. 

1. AVent to Church twice. Mr. Soper and his Sister 
returned to Boston. Nathan Patch went home unwell. 

2. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Rebecca Armstrong went to 
Lancaster in Coach. 

3. Attended at the Bank. Mrs. Thomas and Miss 
Armstrong went to Winchendon from Lancaster. 

4. N. Patch returned. Charles worked for Adlington. 
Made 17 Beer Gallons Current Wine. 

5. Mrs. Thomas & Miss Armstrong returned from Win- 
chendon. 



Cash received. 
July 1. At Walpole, Curtis debt, 62.34 2: 

13. Of M*. Burnside from 

Stiles, 24.50 

16. Rent in Boston, 25. 00 2; 



Kent in Boston, two 

houses. 180.00 

Cash in Store, 2.37 

Rec d . for Tickets, 108.50 







Cash paid away. 




(i. 


Miss [B.] board, &c, 


13.00 




Family, 4.00 


1'-'. 


Family — 


4.00 


23. 


Mr. Spooner for tickets, 125.00 




Paid Flagg, 


5.00 


24. 


Washers for paper Mill. 10.00 


13. 


Paid Chase, 


1 1.00 




Lawrence, to go to Boston. 1 .50 




Family, sundries, 


3.00 




Family, 3.00 




Paid Nathan Paten, 


5.00 


26. 


Mrs. Thomas, 20.00 


15. 


Paid Putnam, 


10.00 




Flagg on Note 23 d ., L5.00 




Family, 


1.00 




Pd Frazier at twice, 15.45 


20. 


Expenses to Boston, 


&C, 10. .">o 


29. 


Paid Johnson 2 days 




Hat <fc Sugar, 


8.C0 




reaping, 3.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


in. on 




Frazier, 10. oo 


21. 


Paid Frazer, 


10.00 


30. 


Family & sundries, freight, 2.00 


22. 


Do Bank, 
13 


50.45 







l'.U American Antiquarian Society. 

(>. Began to reap Wheat.— made 20 Gallons of Currant 
Wine. 

8. Went to Chh. twice. 

9. (Jot in a load of Wheat. 

10. Sent Lawrence' with the Chaise to carry Miss R. 
Armstrong to Roxbury. Be went to Newton and returned. 
Began to reap Oats. Finished making my Will. Attended 
a1 the Hank. 

1 1 . Got in remainder of Wheat. 

12. Got in a load of ( hits. 

14. (lot in a second. Load of Oats. 
lo. Went to Chh. twice. 

16. Rode out. Maj r . Thayer, of Boston, and daughter, 
Miss Calif and Miss Gill, came on a visit. Cot in a Load 
of Oats. 

17. Maj 1 '. Thayer and daughter went to Boston. Put 

new posts to the Gate of the Stable yard. 

IN. Miss Rebecca Calif and Miss Susannah (Sill returned 
to Leominster. Sold the Rice Estate 1 to Rev. D r . Bancroft. 

1!). Cot in another load of ( )ats. 

20. Attended the Funeral of the wife of Mr. Charles 
White 1 ' this morning. Cot in another load of Oats. 

21. (Jot in 2 loads of Oats. 

22. Did not go to Chh. Have not had my heard shaved 
since Thursday— My barber is sick, and I never could shave 

myself. 

24. Attended at the Bank. 



1 Thia comprised the lain! upon which the parsonage stood, on Main street, and 
a small lot iu the rear, bordering OD the "canal." At the same time Dr. Bancroft 
bought of William Uice. the lot adjoining it on the north, which extended to Thomas 
-i reel 

-' Mrs. William Charles White. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



195 



20. Supped with .Judge Bangs and oilier Judges at his 
house, &c. 

28. Isaiah Thomas Andrews went to Providence. 

29. Went to Chh. twice. Took Physic. 

31. Left home ;it 7 "Clock this morning for Providence 

with Lawrence in the Coach. Dined at Sniithfield, visited 
the Cotton Manufactory, and bought .'I pieces of cloth.— 
The C". who own this factory keep about .'500 persons 
employed, chiefly girls from 10 to 20 years of age— a number 
of boys, Men, etc. — they own nearly .'!() dwelling houses 
besides the buildings occupied in their business, which is 
carried on with great regularity. Lcdged at Mrs. Hopkins. 
Providence much crowded with Strangers, etc. on account 
of Commencement. Found it difficult to obtain Lodgings. 
Miss Burns returned from Boston. 

September, 1813. 



1. Attended the Exercises of Commencement in Provi- 
dence, both forenoon and afternoon; Walked in Procession 
by invitation of the Corporation of the College; was intro- 



Aur. 







( 'ash received. 








Iti store, 


1.25 


22. 


Do.. 


1.50 


1 1. 




2.00 


25. 


Do. of John Lincoln 






Kent of Dr. Bancn 


.ft, 41.50 




Interest . 


14.40 




Store, 


1..-.0 
Cash pa 


27. 
nl away. 


Borrowed at Bank, 


inn. no 


2. 


Paid Whittemore 


for 




Family Sundries, 


2.00 




reaping, 


3.75 


21. 


Taxes, Boylston, 


1 .82 


3. 


Sugar for current wine, 9.25 




M. MacCulloch, 


12.50 




Crackers and butcher, 2.50 


25. 


Paid 1). G. Wheeler, 


10.00 




W'hii t emore fur real 


Lng, 3.75 




Hay, 


10.25 


5. 


Rum, for Reapers, 


o.:<7^ 




Anne S., 


2.00 


s. 


Ke£ for Wine, 


2.00 


26. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


5.00 




Hum for Reapers, 


0.37* 




Sundries, 


1.00 


17. 


Sundries family, 


8.00 


27. 


2 pair Stockings, 


3.00 




Paid Flagg on Note 


10.00 




For Weekly Messenger, 


2.50 


18. 


Paid Putnam towards 




Charles, 


10.00 




Stones, 


10.00 




Towards Joshua's Burn, 


40.00 


20. 


Paid S. Brazer, 
Paid Mrs. Thomas, 


12.00 
5.00 


28. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


5.00 



L96 American Antiquarian Society. 

duced to Governor Jones, to the President, 1 Chancellor, 2 

&c. of the College; invited to dine with them, but was 
previously engaged — dined with Win. Wilkinson, Esq 1 '. 3 — 
had many invitations to dine from the Gov''. A: others 
during my stay in Providence. 

2. Went to Warren, Bristol, crossed Bristol ferry with 
my carriage and horses, went to Newport, visited the 
Redwood Library — Lodged at Johnson's Hotel — spent the 
Evening with Mr. Stephens & family. 

3. Rose early, and walked over the most part of New- 
port — breakfasted and left Newport — rode over the island 
and went to see the bridge which connects the island with 
Tiverton over a branch of the Sea. — Saw the coal mines — 
Crossed the ferry again at Bristol, with my horses. &c. 
Wind very high, and the horses not used to a boat — bad 
boats for conveying over horses; got safely over — dined 
at Bristol — arrived at Providence— Lodged at Mrs. Hop- 
kins' — Rain — visited my friends Goddard and Carter, 4 and 
several others. 

4. Left Providence early this Morning — with Miss A. 
L. Sheldon, who has been 7 weeks on a visit to Providence — 



1 Asa Messer, President from 1804 t . » L826. 

2 Jabez Bowen, Chancellor from 1785 in 1815. 

5 William Wilkinson, after his graduation from Brown in 17S.'>. was principal 
of the Latin School in Providence fur eleven years; librarian of Brown University 

from 1785 to 1788; postmaster of Providence from 1790 to 1792; and was a 1 k- 

seller in Providence from 1794(?) to 1817. From 1813 to isis he was a member 
of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He was one of the early members 
of the American Antiquarian Society. 

[Born, Thompson, Conn., 19 June, 1760. Died, Providence, 16 May, lsr,L\] 

■'John Carter served his apprenticeship with Franklin & Hall in Philadelphia 

and from 17(i(i to 1768 was the partner of Sarah Goddard in Providence. The 

following year he succeeded William and Sarah Goddard and became the proprietor 
of the Providence Gazette, which he published for over forty years. For more than 
twenty years his office was "at Shakespear's Head, opposite to the Court House"; 

and afterwards near the bridge, Opposite the market. lie was postmaster of Provi- 
dence before the Revolution, and for many years after. 

I Horn, Philadelphia. Died. Providence, August, INI 1.1 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 1U7 

breakfasted at Smithfield — arrived at home at half past 
5 "Clock. Began ploughing. 

5. Went to Chh. twice. M'. Fogg from Boston visited 

us. 

(>. Mrs. Legate c^ M r . Fogg spent a day with us. 

8. My brother was at Worcester. 

9. General Fasi throughout the States. My brother 
returned to Lancaster. 

12. Attended Chh. twice. Dr. Allen preached. 

14. Went to Sterling and Lancaster. Lodged at my 
Brother's. Hired 2 additional men in the Field. 

15. Hired 2 ditto. Went from Lancaster to Leominster, 
—dined with Mrs. Legate. — returned home this Evening. 

Arch at the head of the Bridge, which was injured by a 
Freshet in the Spring repaired — but not so well done as it 
was at first-. It was repaired under the direction of the 
Surveyors of highway. 

10. Hired 2 additional Men in the field. 

17. Mrs. M'Culloch very unwell for several days. 

19. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Nash preached: 

20. Rode out with Mrs. M'Culloch. 

22. Took up Onions. 

23. Gathered Bury pairs. 

24. Finished sowing Rye. 

25. Mr. Soper and his sister Rachel came from Boston. 
Directors met at the Bank & burned 1(),()()() dols. old 
bills. 

2(i. Went to Chh. twice. 

27. Mr. & Mrs. Andrews, Miss Weld and two of my 
grand daughters came from Boston. 



198 



American Antiquarian Society. 



29. Attended Antiquarian Society. 1 

27 ,h — 2S ,h — 29 ,h — 30 th — 20 in family including Visitors. 



October, ISIS. 

1. Mr. E. T. Andrews, his wife, Miss Weld and my 
Granddaughter Mary returned to Boston. 

3. Went to Chh. twice. 

4. Meeting of the Directors Wor. Bank — and the Stock- 
holders; old Directors rechosen both for the old and new 
Bank. 

6. Went to Westboro' to attend a Meeting of the Wor. 
Evang. Society — dined with them, and attended them to 
Chh. Rev. Mr. Foster of Brighton preached — 75 dols. 
collected. The Society walked in procession to and from 



1 The members elected at this meeting were Ellas Hasket Derby, of Salem; William 
Goddard, William Wilkinson and Governor William Jones, of Providence; Nathaniel 
Maccarty, of Worcester; Rev. .Joseph Lyman, D.D., of Hatfield; Hew Samuel 
Willard, of Deerfield; Lewis Strong, of Northampton; Professor Benjamin Silliinan 
and President Timothy Dwight, of Yale; President Jesse Apple ton, of Bowdoin; 
Jacpb ' iourgas, of Milton; John Lathrop, Jr., of Boston; and Rev. Samuel Miller, 
D.D., of New York. 



( lash receive! 
Sept. 7. Cash from Stiles Exn for 

Rent, 25.00 

Do. of Webb Pew rent. L6.43 

Store. 7.00 

If). Cash from Dana on Exn. 

against Stiles for 
Rent, 20.00 



31. 



Borrowed 1(1 dollars of 

.\L. J. Trumbull, 10.00 

1 :«•<•■'. of the County, 124.50 

Store. 8.2.5 

of Foster. 2.00 
Cash of M r . Denny on 

Exn. vs. Stiles, 20.00 



( 


ash pa 


d away. 








Expences on a journey 




21. 


N. Patch, 




5.00 


of five days to Rhode 






Paid M'. J. 


rrumbull, 




[aland, m\ self, < loach- 






borrowed, 




10.00 


man & horses, 


25.00 




Paid Mrs. T1k 


mas, 


50. 00 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 


22. 


N. Patch, 




10.00 


Paid Asa Flagg, in full, 


19.51 


27. 


Paid for Wine 




53.75 


Family, 


A. (1(1 




Paid for Hay, 




nidi) 


1 [orses it Lawrence, 


1.(11) 




House, 




2.00 


Mrs. Thomas, 


3.00 


28. 


Family, 




2.00 


Family, 


2.00 


30. 


Oxen, 




0.83 


Do., 


3.00 




Mrs. T„ 




5.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. L99 

Church — A hand of Music preceded them. Went to Frain- 
ingham & lodged. 

7. Attended Turnpike Directors Meeting at Gen. 
Eliot's, Newton. Dined with the Gen 1 .— agreed to erect a 
half gate in Newton. Went to Boston. 

8. Returned to Worcester. My Son set out in Stage 
for Burlington, Vermont. 

10. No Meeting at the north parish Church. 1)'. Ban- 
croft sick. 

11. Attended Review of Worcester Regiment. 

12. Mrs. McCulloch set out for Philadelphia in the 
Mail Stage— to travel all Night—attended at Bank. 

17. Dr. Bancroft continues very ill — no meeting at his 
Chh. . 

20. My Son returned from St. Albans, &c. Went to 

Boston in the Coach. — took Miss Rachel Soper and Judge 
Bangs with me. Sat off at 7 and arrived at 5 "Clock. 

21. Attended to Business of the Antiquarian Society. 

22. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. Cot my Shares 
in the State Bank. 

23. First Anniversary Celebration of the American 
Antiquarian Society — Attended the Society as President— 
The Society Attended at the Stone Chapel — An Address 
by Professor Jenks — Prayers & Lessons by Parson Carey 1 — 
Music, &c. 2 



1 Rev. Samuel Cary, the son of Rev. Thomas Cary, of Newburyport, was graduated 
from Harvard in 1804, and was associate minister to Rev. .lames Freeman, at 
Nine's Chapel, from 1809 to his death, in 1815. 

-'"On Saturday the 2'.i<\ ult. the auspicious day, on which the western world 
was first disclosed to the view of Europe, was celebrated the first Anniversary of 
this infant Institution. The Society convened at It) o'clock A. M. at the Exchange 
Coffee Hovise in Boston, and proceeded at 11 o'clock to the Stone chapel, where 
the publick exercises of the day were performed before a numerous assembly. The 
Rev. Mr. Cary introduced the exercises by a solemn, pertinent, and impressive 



200 American Antiquariant Society. 

24. Went to Chh. and to Medford to see Hon. T v . 
Bigelow. 

25. Sat out for Worcester — Storm — Judge Bangs and 
Mr. Burnside with me. Stopped at Framingham and 

tarried there all night. 

26. Arrived Home at noon. Attended at Bank. 

This Day I was elected a Member of the New York 
Historical Society — unsolicited and unexpectedly. 



prayer, and by appropriate readings from the sacred scriptures. The Oration 
was pronounced by the Rev. Professor Jenks, of Bowdoin College. Of this per- 
formance it were difficult to speak in terms of exaggerated praise. It exhibited 
a depth of scientific research, an extent of learning, and a purity of style, which 
would do much honour to literary characters of the first grade in any country. It 
will soon be presented to the publick, and will not, we trust, like most of the occa-' 
sional productions of the day, be buried, after a single reading, in forget fulness, 
but will be preserved and remembered by the American scholar, as an honourary 
proof of the literature of our native country. The services of the Chapel were 
interspersed with the richest music, and were highly gratifying to the enlightened 
audience, who attended them. It cannot be doubted, that an Institution, whose 
objects are so particularly important to this extensive and growing continent, and 
so highly useful to the common interests of science, will receive the general good 
•wishes, the liberal encouragement, and the united patronage of all the friends of 
learning and virtue." — National /Egis, 3 November, 1813. 

The order of exercises, as given in the manuscript records of the society, was: — 
"Voluntary on the organ. 
Prayer, by the Rev*. Mr. Cary. 
Psalm 1 15, from the Chapel Church collection sung. 

Tune, old Hundred. 
Benediction. 
Voluntary on the organ. 
Address by the Rev' 1 . Professor Jenks." 

The members elected were Thomas I.. Halsey, Thomas L. Halsey, Jr., Nicholas 
Brown, and Samuel W. Bridgham, of Providence; Rev. William Nash, of Wes1 
Boylston; Thomas Walter Ward, of Shrewsbury; Theophilus Parsons, of Boston; 
Ihvight foster, of Brookfield; Josiah Bartlett, of Charlestown; Elijah Brigham, 
of West borough; Abijah Bigelow, of Leominster; Rev. Francis Brown, of North 
Yarmouth; Simon Elliot, of Newton; Aaron Davis, of Roxbury; Abraham Bigelow 
:iikI William Winthrop, of Cambridge; and Professor Roswell Shurtleff, and 
Professor Hbenezer Adams, of Dartmouth. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



201 



31. Both Churches shut — Dr. Bancroft not recovered 
— D r . Austin on a journey. 

November, 1813. 

2. Finished gathering in Corn. 

3. Walked 3 miles. 

(i. Lawrence carried J) r . Bancroft in the Coach to 
Shrewsbury. Wrote to M'. Sheldon, and again to his Sister 
in England. 

7. Mr. Sumner 1 of Shrewsbury preached. D 1 '. Bancroft 
attended Chh. 



1 .Joseph Sumner, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Griffin Sumner, of Pomfret, 
Conn., was graduated from Vale in 1759, and for the next year taught school in 
Charlton, Mass. He then studied for the ministry under Rev. Aaron Putnam, 
of Pomfret, and was licensed to preach in May, 1761. In the following month 
he was engaged to supply t ho pulpit in Shrewsbury, where he remained through 







Cash received. 








Oct. 4. 


Bank, dividends, 


801 00 




Of C°. T. & A., 




144.00 


12. 


Rec d . of Mr. Burn 


side, 20.00 


23. 


Rent Newbury 


■St reet 






Of the Bank, a I.< 


an, 198.00 




house, 




.51.00 


22. 


Uec'i. Rent in Bos 


ton, 180.00 


29. 


Lieut. Legate, 




15.50 




Rec d . Loan < >frice, 


31.00 




Bye sold, 




4.00 




< >f State Hank, 


5G.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 








1. 


Family, 


2.00 




Paid Lawrence, 




20.00 


3. 


Do., 


3.00 


21. 


Paid Stearns. Thomas & 




, ii - 


Paid Mr. Soper 


for 




Thomas Note, 




00.00 




( loach, 


475.00 




Paid Rebecca 


Arm- 






Mrs. Simmons, 


10.00 




strong, dividem 




17.50 




Expences tO Boston, 6.00 




Do. Miss Weld. 


Do., 


12.50 




Paid Mrs. T. Bank 


divi- 




Callender it Jenkins, 


30.00 




dend, 


20.00 




Expenses to Bosk 


n, 


13.50 


9. 


Flour 1 barrel, 


15.50 


24. 


Cyclopedia, 




12.00 




Candles 51 lb., 


7.14 




Broad Cloth & Fl 


annel 


37.00 




State Bank, sent t 


. Mr. 




M. B., 




15.00 




Andrews, 


200.00 




Stockings & Cam 


.rick, 


7.50 




Mrs. Simmons, 


10.00 




Children, &c, 




2.00 




Paid for work on 


farm 




Professor Jenks, 




20.00 




to Curtis, 


7.. r >0 




Mrs. Thomas, 




6.00 


12. 


Mrs. M'Culloch, 


20.00 


29. 


Paid Fiske, 




9.60 




Lent Mr. Burnside, 


20.00 




Charles, 




2.00 




Levi & Sundries, 


1.00 




Postage, 




3.00 


in. 


11. Frazier, 


2.20 


30. 


Paid Bank, 




100.00 


19. 


Paid Mrs. Thomas, 
Paid State Bank, 


20.00 
200.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 




25.00 



202 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. My Niece Mrs. Parker came on a visit from Harvard. 

10. Mrs. Parker returned to Harvard. Attended at the 
Bank. Rev. Dr. Bancroft & wife, sat out for Vermont. 

11. Wrote to Wm. Sheldon in Jamaica. 

12. Paid Blanchard. Bought 14 barrels of Cyder. 

14. Mr. Nash preached. — dined with me. I did not go 
out. 

15. My brother Joshua came from Lancaster after his 
annual Supply of Almanacks. Did not go abroad. 

16. My Brother returned to Lancaster. Attended at 
the Bank. 

17. Moses 4 nomas came from Sterling. Mr. Sbper came 
up from Boston. 

18. Mr. Soper returned to Boston. Tanyard Company 



the summer, but not desiring an earls- settlement, he returned to Connect ieut, and 
preached at Woodstock, Preston and Stafford. In March, 17C>2, he accepted a 
call to become the minister of the church in Shrewsbury, and was ordained 2.5 June. 
His services covered a period of nearly sixty-three years, during which he was never 
absent from a stated communion. He was settled on a salary of {.'(id. K5s. 4d., 
or about $222.00, which was increased in 1809, to S2X(i.<>7. With this he brought 
up a family of eight children, one of whom was educated at Dartmouth, and left 
at his death a comfortable fortune, mostly in real estate. 

Mr was a man of the most liberal views, and during his pastorate, the Oalvinistie 
additions to the covenant were erased by vote of the church, undoubtedly through 
his influence; and although he took no part in the theological controversy, which 
arose in this lime, between the Trinitarian and Unitarian portions of the Cqngrega 
tional Church, his sympathies and associations were known to be with the latter. 
'I was brought up in the orthodox faith, and have always lived in il, and I expect 
to (lie in it," lie once remarked to Dr. Austin of the First Church in Worcester. 
"But," was the reply, "you dipped off it- coiners." "Yes," retorted Dr. Sumner. 
"and they need clipping more." Dr. Sumner had a most imposing presence, was 
tall and erect, six feet four inches in height, and always wore I lie COStume of the 

eighteenth century knee-breeches, silver buckles, cocked hat and white wig. 

lie received the degree of D.D. from Harvard, in lsi t. and at about the same 
time from Columbia College, South Carolina. He married. 12 May, 1763, I.ucy. 
daughter of Deacon William Williams of Mortlake, Conn., who died 13 February, 
1810. 

[Born, Pomfret, Conn., 30 January, 1710. Died, Shrewsbury, 9 December, 1824.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 203 

meet. Mrs. Seaver — visit. Mrs. Thomas fell in getting 
out of the Carriage by the horses starting. Charles hurt 
in the head by the Flail of his Companion whilst thrashing. 
About 400, certainly not less, pass and repass, weekly, 
through Worcester from Boston to Connecticut, New 
York and Pennsylvania — a number go as far as Mary- 
land, and some to South Carolina <fe Georgia. The number 
employed in the inland trade (Occasioned by the War) 
must amount to several thousand. 1 



1 The blockade of the Atlantic seaboard l>y the British fleet in 1813 was a serious 
interruption to the coasting trade, which for years had employed thousands of 
vessels for the transportation of the products of New England, and the East India 
goods which were brought to her ports, the flour of the Middle States and the rice 
and cotton of the South. This intercourse, thus cut off by water, was necessarily 
transferred to the land, and the enterprise of some Boston merchants who char- 
tered a few wagons and sent them with loads to Philadelphia and Baltimore imme- 
diately created a new industry, and by early summer the roads leading southward 
wore Idled with a continuous stream of huge canvas-covered wagons, drawn by 
double or triple teams of horses or oxen, bound from Salem and Boston as far as 
Augusta and Savannah. At the close of the year it was estimated that four thousand 
wagons anil twenty thousand cattle, horses and oxen were thus employed. Soon 
the owners of the wagons, in order to keep track of their goods, which were often 
entrusted to unknown teamsters, devised the method of naming them like ships 
and of keeping rough logs in which were entered the names, destination and in- 
formation of other wagons met on the road; and which were published in the 
newspapers of the towns through which they passed. Many of these names were 
humorous, such as "Commerce renewed and Old 'rimes," "Neptune Metamorphosed" 
"Mud Clipper," "Jefferson's Pride," "Sailors' Misery' and "Don't Give up the 
Ship"; while the newspapers, entering into their spirit published their arrival and 
departure in the column devoted to marine intelligence, under such headings as 
"Horse Marine Intelligence," "Morse and Ox Marine News" and " Jeff ersonian 
Commerce." Bach town was a "port " ami the driver of the wagon tin 1 "captain." 
One of these notices in the Columbian Centinel reads: "Port »! ALEXANDRIA, 
Oct. 2"), — .4 r, the fast sailing waggon N on pari el, Capt. Jackson, 25 days from Boston, 
shoes, domestic cottons and playing cards, to the supercargo. Spoke 19th inst. 
in lat. 39, 51) the "> horse waggon Yankee, Capt. Smith, with an assorted cargo from 
Providence, for Baltimore to order. 20th spoke waggon James Madison, Capt. 
Drew, laden with domestic cloths from Providence, for the first port ; in distress, 
haviiiK the day before encountered a rough sea which hove him on his beam ends, 
sprung his main axletree, broke one spoke and sprung several of his main larboard 
wheels; his cargo shifted with such force that it stove Ins t:iil board, broke in his 
larboard railing and carried away all his canvass by the board. In this situation 
she fortunately lay perfectly quiet until by the great exertions of himself and crew, 



204 American Antiquarian Society. 

20. Finished ploughing. 

21. Wont to Ohh. up in town — Dr. Bancroft absent. 

• 22. Wrote & sent triplicate Letters to Win. Sheldon, 
in Jamaica, and to Mrs. Lee in England, via of Halifax 
by Capt. Anderson, who goes in a ('artel. Attended at 
Tanyard. 

23. Prisoners sat out for Boston to go in (artel for 
Halifax. 



the cargo was so far removed that she was righted." The National /Egis of 3 
November, 1813, contains the announcement that "On Monday last, left this port, 
(Worcester) bound to Savannah two waggons, under the command of Commodore 
Eaton and ('apt. Moore, Loaded with cards, shoes, &c. Also, same day, a large, 
new-built 5 hoi -e waggon, laden with a cargo of about 3000 hat s, under ('apt . Rice— 

Destination, Alexandria, Col. Dis." 

The Democratic papers published similar notices in a different spirit, and the 
Boston Patriot, a supporter of the administration and the war, says: 

"Friday, Nov. 12. — Arrived, the clump ship Bulwark, from a political cruise 
through New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island, with authenti- 
cated copies of the Connecticut Blue Laws, a few grindstones, a led mule, onions, 
a few pair of Rhode Island spectacles, Arc. consigned to Deacon P and Gov. S. 

"Sailed. — The fast-sailing borse-waggon Morality for Vergennes, fVt.) with a 
CArgO of 'QUINCY'S Resolves,' for the Use of the workmen in the famous cannon 
ball foundry." 

There were necessarily many delays in this method of transportation, caused 
by the state of the roads, and the unfitness of the ferry boats on the great rivers, 
and in New York lines of wagons might often be seen drawn up along the streets 
for sevend days, waiting for an opportunity to cross. Then, too, New England 
became scandalized at the long stream of wagons which passed through her towns 
every Sunday, and the old laws against travelling on the Sabbath, which even in 
Connecticut had become almost obsolete, sine,, the advent of the turnpike and the 
quick-packet stage, were again rigidly enforced. 

Iln- tytbing-man had been powerless to Stop unaided a coach and four dashing 
at full speed through the village street, but it was different with the heavily loaded 
wagons, which were almost invariably held up, and the drivers fined. In Conriec 
ticut the towns of Fairfield and Wet heislield were the especial dread of the drivers 
for this reason, ami the following paragraph from the Columbian Centinel of 23 
October, show- that th lighter vehicles dl<l not always succeed ill eluding his 
vigilance: — 

"Port <>[ FAIRFIELD, (Con.) Oct. 10. on Sunday last, about nine o'clock, 

A. M. the new fa-t -ailing inland Boston and N . York packet hove in sight, standing 
westward under a press of sail. She was hailed as -he passed, by one of the in- 
forming and boarding officers on this station and commanded to heave to; but 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 2<)"> 

25. Thanksgiving Day. Mr. Charles Morris 1 of Hali- 
fax, Volunteer in the British Service, prisoner of War — 
Capt. Henry Bancroft, 2 — Charles W. White, 3 Esq r . A: 
Mrs. Seaver < lined with us. 



being much superior in size and weight of metal, lie found it impossible to detain 
her. — Between one and two o clock p. m. same day, arrived a Beet from the cast- 
ward, consisting of four Connecticut tin waggons, outward hound, two coaches, 
one phaeton and one tandem gig. — They were hailed in due form, and all but the 
gig, hove to, without opposition. Iler commander being a man of spirit, refused 
to submit, and thought to escape by superior sailing. She was, however, compelled 
to strike, after a sharp action of five minutes, in which, happily, no lives were lost 
on either side. — At .">. p. M. same day, the other new, fast-sailing inland Boston 
ami Mew-York Packet, bound eastward, and full of passengers, attempted to pass 
willi every rag of sail set. The revenue cutter lying directly in her course, she 
hauled her wind and already thought herself clear — but the cutter, by a bold and 
masterly manoeuvre, tangled the packet in her mizen chains, and brought her 
at once upon her beam ends. Finding further resistance vain, she submitted. 
As soon as a court could consistently be held, the prisoners (between twenty anil 
thirty in number) were all indicted for breach of Sabbath, and pleading guilty, 
were all fined and required to pay costs. Upon complying with the order of court, 
they were released and permitted to proceed. OF" We would advise all foreigners, 
as well as our own citizens, not to attempt travelling in this State, hereafter upon 
the SABBATH, as we understand the old non-intercourse law, which has king 
slept, is about to be revived and rigorously enforced, throughout the State." 

In summer, when the roads were good and there were no long delays the trip 
from Boston to Baltimore was made in twenty-six days; from Baltimore to Rich- 
mond in ten days; and from Baltimore to Augusta in thirty-three days. 

1 Lieutenant Charles Morris, of the Halifax Volunteers, a prisoner of war on 
parole, in Worcester. 

2 Henry Bancroft, the son of Aaron and Lucretia Chandler Bancroft, was a captain 
in the East Indian service. As sailing master he had command of one of McDon- 
OUgh's ships, when he gained his victory on Lake ( 'hamplain, ■"> September, 1S14. 

[Born, Worcester. 8 October, L787. Died, Worcester, 26 October. 1N17.1 

William Charles White, the son of William White, a Boston merchant, was 
fitted for business, and for several years was in the -tore of Joseph Coolidge, in 
Boston; but t Hi s occupation soon became distasteful to him, and powerful attrac- 
tions to the stage, formed at an earls' age, were too strong to be overcome. In 

1 7! tii. at t he age of nineteen, he had writ ten "Orlando," a t ragedy, and iii Decembei 

of that year he made bis first appearance at the Federal Street Theatre, as Norval. 

in the tragedy of Douglas, to the meat grief of his father, who had the profound 

horror of the stage, SO common at that lime, ami whose letters to his son on the 
subject are so extravagant in their expressions as to be almost ludicrous: "Dear 
William! for so I will still call you; my beloved son! stain not the memory of 
your amiable and tender mother by your folly; break not the heart of your father; 



206 American Antiquarian Society. 

26. Sent my resignation as a Director of the Worcester 
Turnpike Corporation, in which capacity I have served 
ever since the Corporation commenced. 



bring not down his gray hairs with sorrow to the grave Your youth 

will excuse you for once .... Hut. for God's sake, and everything you 
hold dear, I pray you to refrain, and be not again seen on a common stage." A 
week later he appeared in his own tragedy, and his success so far reconciled his 

father, that he consented to allow hint to act Occasionally. "Lei me enjoin it upon 
you," he wrote, "never to appear, no, not for once, in any comic act, when- the 
mimic tricks of a monkey are better lilted to excite laughter, and where dancing, 
singing and kissing, may he thought amusement enough for a dollar." After a 
few months, however, his popularity waned, and leaving the stage, he studied law- 
wit h Levi Lincoln, in Worcester, and with Judge Howell in Providence. He opened 
an office in the latter place, but lack of business and increasing debts drove him 
again to the stage in New York, and he also played for a few nights in Richmond, 
Va.. with such success that he determined to devote his life to the theatre. An- 
other reversal of fortune again cured his mania, and in 1S01 he opened an office 

in Rutland, Mass. Jlis practice was not as large a^ he had anticipated, and having 
contracted, in 1809, to compile a "Compendium of the Laws of Massachusetts," 
he removed to Boston in L810, to complete that work, and had an office in the old 
State House, in partnership with David Everett, the editor of t he Boston Patriot. 
In 1811 he succeeded Edward Hangs as county attorney, and retained this office 
until his death. In 1812 lie established himself in Grafton, returned to Worcester 
in the following year, and from 1814 to 1816 lived in Sutton. 

Mr. White's love of the drama continued throughout his life, and he proved 
himself more successful as a writer than as an actor. His first play, "Orlando," 
wa- published in 17!I7, with a prologue by Thomas Paine, and a portrait of the 
author in character. "The Clergyman's Daughter' was presented at the Boston 
Theatre, I January, 1810, with an epilogue by Robert Treat Paine, Jr., and obtained 
remarkable success; and the New Year's address of the carriers of the Columbian 
Ccntiiifl to their patrons on that day, contains the following lines: — 
"Hut now for New Year's Day and New Year's Night, 

We give you joy, and fame, and Mr. WHITE! 

First of Columbian Hards, who, unconceal'd, K 

lias dar'd his name, on scenick boards, to yield — 

Whose bold ambitious genius aims to spread 

A wreath of bay around his Country's head; 

Who, as he draws from night her world of mind, 

Snows now ink ORE M\Y GLITTER, WREN REFIN'D." 
In the following December "The Poor Lodger," a comedy founded on Mis- Bur- 
ney's "Evelina," also containing an epilogue by Robert Treat Paine, Jr., was success- 
fully produced at the same theatre. 

Four Fourth of July orations by Mr. White were also published: at Rutland, 

in 1802; at Worcester, in 1804; at Boston, before the Hunker Hill Monument 
Association, in 1809; and at Hubbardston, in 1810. 



THary of Isaiah Thomas. 



207 



28. Went to the Baptist Meeting. . 
Decent her, IS 13. 

2. Sold a small piece of Land, on Cross Street near 
the Canal to Dr. Paine opposite to which is to be erected 
a fulling Mill, for 175 dols. Land 205 feet in length across 
the back of 3 Lots, and 40 feet in breadth beginning in 
the Brook. 

3. Attended a Com ee . of the (i. Lodge being Chair- 
man, at B r . Heley's, respecting the removal of Morning 
Star Lodge to Leicester. The Com ee . decided against the 
removal. Moses Thomas at Worcester. 10 British Officers, 
among them Col. Grant and Lieut. Morris, committed to 



.Mr. White was a frequent contributor to the National Mgi& while Mr. Blake had 
charge of it, and in 1812 he succeeded Samuel Brazer, Jr., as its editor; but he found 
thai he could nut support the views < >f the party and resigned in a few months, 
publishing in July, 1813-, a pamphlet, "Avowals of a Republican," to vindicate 
liis action. 

Mr. White married, while in Rutland, Tamar Smith, who died in 1813; and in 
August, 1815, he was again married to Susan .lohannot, daughter of Dr. Stephen 
Monroe, of Sutton. 

[Born, Boston, 1777. Died, Worcester, 2 May. 1818.] 



Cash received. 



Nov. 



Nov. 1. 



Store, 

Cash found which I mi 

laid 3 years since. 
Store, 

Reed, of A. Lincoln, 
Store, 
Store, 



2.00 

31.00 
5.50 

15.51) 
5.00 
1.75 



29. 



Do., 

Do., 

Corn. 

Kent- Stile-. 

For Ticket s, 

Store, 

Store A Rye, 



3.44 
8.30 

l.oo 
27.00 

107.00 

1.00 
5.00 



( lash paid away. 



13. 
14. 
18. 



Apples— 3.50. Eggs 1.50, 5.00 
Apples 1. family 5.00, (i.00 
Lawrence, 4.10 

Paid Lincoln A: Fearing, 21.34 
Brandy. 1.34 

Family, 3.00 

Charles Shoe-. & Carting, 2.25 
Joseph Patch's Acct., 27.00 
Paid towards Hay. 50.00 



21. 
24. 
26. 



I'aid Mills ploughing & 
apples, 6.00 

Oysters, 0.50 

Turkies 2.00 Hoot-. ;; (III 

Arc. 5.60 

Turkies & Geese- Fowl-, 5.70 
Sundries for family, 3.00 
Paid for Tickets, Mr. 

Spooner, 91 00 



i^ihs American Antiquarian Society. 

close confinement by the Marshal, as hpstages for a part 

of our Officers so confined in Quebec. 1 

4. Went to sec the British Officers confined in Prison 
particularly M r . Morris. 

Attended this Eveir. at Sikes, with a number of 

Gentlemen, to consider of something for the comfort of 
the British Officers, lately confined in goal. The right of 



'Among the American prisoners taken at the battle of Queenstown were twenty- 
three Irishmen, who, although they had been naturalized long before the opening 
of the war, were sent to England to be tried for treason, on the ground that they 
were British born subjects. In March, 1813, Congress passed an act authorizing 
the President to take retaliatory measures; and in October, General Dearborn 
received instructions to put into close confinement twenty-three British officers, 
as hostages fur the safe-keeping and exchange of the American soldiers. 27 
October, General Baynes, the British commander, notified General Dearborn that 
he hail been instructed by the home government to immediately put into close 
confinement forty-six American officers and non-commissioned officers; that if 
any of t he British officers, by reason of the conviction of the soldiers confined in 
England, should suffer death he was instructed to select out of the American officers 
double the number, to suffer instant death: and that he was further instructed 
to notify him that the war would be prosecuted with unmitigated severity against 
all cities, towns and villages belonging to the United States, if within a reasonable 
time after this communication was transmitted to his government, it should not 
be deterred from putting to death any British soldiers. Upon receiving this com- 
munication, the President ordered into close confinement twenty-three additional 
British officers, who were placed in different jails in New England. Ten of these 
officers had come to Worcester on parole some time before, expecting daily to 
receive notice that an exchange had been effected, and their commitment to the 
Worcester jail caused great excitement among the Federalists, several of whom, 
among them Francis Blake, Dr. Oliver Fiske and William Stedman, went to the 
jail shortly after, to see that they were properly cared for. 

A dispute arose between .lames Prince, the United States marshal, who had 
made the commitment, and the sheriff, Thomas Walter Ward, of Shrewsbury, as 
•:> the manner of treating the prisoners, which, after a heated discussion, finally 

ended in their being left in the can- of the sheriff. The bitter, hut evidently un- 
merited, crit icisms of t lie Federalist s on i be severil y of t he marshal, were the subject 
of much newspaper controversy. According to their charges, made later by affida- 
vit, the prisoners were found locked up in two separate rooms, five in each, with 
no furniture except a short stool, or bench, a small, dirty pine table, and a straw 
hed about six feet square, upon which were one or two rag coverlets. One of I lie 
mi in- was declared to lie very "loathsome," having been previously occupied bj 
a maniac, and both were without fires. In the language of Mr. Blake, "a bloated 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 209 

the Marshal to make vise of the goal, for prisoners of the 
above description without permission was called in Ques- 
tion. 1 

5. Went to Chh. twice. Dr. Bancroft dined with me 
and preached the first time for 7 weeks. Visited the 
English Officers confined in Prison. 

9. Sent a dinner to the British Officers in Prison. 

10. Tho s . llickson a young bookseller, born in Ireland, 
came from Boston to see me on the subject of taking my 
Stock and Store. 

12. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Nurse a Worcester Mis- 
sionary preached. 

13. My Son and Win. Andrews son of William came 
u|) from Boston. William to remain here to Study Law. 
Bad Company. 

14. Attended at the Bank. 



pensioner upon the public sufferings, assuming the authority of the Chief Magistrate, 
and dealing out his Five Hundred Dollars to Spies ami informers, as a bounty 
upon perjury, and an encouragement to cut-throat scoundrels, to proscribe and 
persecute their innocent fellow-citizens, who have rendered themselves obnoxious 
to this infamous public accuser, is a spectacle as hideous as < was ever presented 
in the bloodiest period of the French Revolution." 

Through the intervention of the Federalists additional comforts were allowed 
to the prisoners, many liberties were given to them, ami they were further allowed 
to retain one of their servants. 

'in 1789 the first Congress passed a resolution, recommending to the several 
states, to allow the use of their jail- by the Federal government, hut allowing the 
marshals to provide other places, when this was denied. This was generally com- 
plied with, hut now Massachusetts, with I he rest of the New Kngland stale- and 
several others, denied the right of the Federal government to exercise such a right 
in the case of prisoners of war, and on 7 February, 181 t, the General Court passed 
an act forbidding the use of the jails within the -tale by the Federal government 
for the confinement of prisoners committed by any other than judicial authority; 
and requiring the jailers, at the end of thirty days, to discharge all prisoner- ..I 
war. This led to an act of Congress, to the same effect as the resolution of L789, 
and an application by the president to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the 
Use fif its penitentiaries for prisoners of war, was immediately granted. 

14 



210 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Visited the British Officers in Prison. A number 
of Members of A. A. S. met at my house this Evening. 

17. My Son returned to Boston in the Stage. Attended 
a Meeting at Sikes's about the Hearse, &c. and at the 
Tanya rd. 

18. Attended at the Bank. 

19. Went to Church twice. 

20. Went to Boston in the Coachee with Dr. Bancroft 
at noon. Lodged at Eaton's, Framingham. 

21. Arrived in Boston at one "'Clock. 

22. Attended a Meeting of the Historical Society. 
Went to Chh. with them and dined with them at Concert 
Hall. Attended meeting of the A. Antiquarian Society at 
Exchange Coffee house. — Officers elected. — was chosen 
president — 39 new members. 1 

23. Dined with Maj T . Sam 1 . Thayer. 2 Saw Mary Burns. 

24. Dined with Mr. Andrews. 

25. Went to Chh. at King's Chapel. — Dined with my 
Son. 

'William Ellery, of Newport; Edward 11. Robbins, of Milton; John Adams, 
of Quincy; Oliver Bray, of Portland; Silas Dinsmore, of St. Stephens, Ala.; Dr. 
Abraham 1!. Thompson, of Charlestown; Dudley A. Tyng, of Cambridge; Moses 

l-'i-ke, of White Plains, Term.; Hugh Williamson and Egbert Benson, of New York; 
Colonel Benjamin Hawkins; Captain Hugh McCall, of Savannah, (la.; Charles 
Thomson, of l'enn. ; Rev. Manassah Cutler, of Hamilton; Nathaniel Lord, :ird., 
of [pswich; .lames Hillhouse, of New Haven; Governor John Cotton Smith, of 
Conn.; Bushrod Washington, of Mount Vernon; Rev. Elijah Parish, of Byfield; 

Winthrop Sargent, of Natchez, Tenn.; Rev. Daniel Clark Saunders, of Burlington, 

\'t . ; ( Sharles < Jotesworl h Pinckney, of < !harleston, S. C. ; Caleb Si rang, of Northamp- 
ton; William ('ranch and John Marshall, of Washington; Elijah Paine, of Williams- 
town, Yt.; William Stedman, of Worcester; Benjamin Yaughan, of Hallo well; and 
Daniel Stamford, Rev. John Lathrop, Rev. Isaac Smith, Peter < >. Thacher. 

Alden Bradford (declined), John Phillips, David Humphries, William Biglow, 

William Phillips and Epes Sargent, of Boston. 

" Samuel M. and Minot Thayer were dry goods merchants at 7li Cornhill (Washing- 
toil street I, in the building afterwards so long occupied by the < >M Corner Bookstore. 

Samuel M. Thayer lived in Cooke's court, near the present Parker House. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 211 

26. Did not go to Chh. Spent the afternoon with 
Mrs. Crocker. Dined with M'. Andrews. 

27. Left Boston with Miss Calef and my Grand Daughter 
Mary Thomas at 11 "Clock, and arrived at Worcester at 
\ past seven in the Coach. 

28. Meet with the Directors of Worcester Library. 

29. Began to take an Account of Stock. 

30. Went with Mrs. Thomas & Miss Calef to the Coal 
to see Mr. Morris, confined as a hostage by Government. 

31. Engaged in taking an Account of Stock. 

Memorand" 1 . Went to Boston in the old Coach 20 th .— 
got in Town 21 st . Sent Lawrence to Worcester with the 
horses 23 d — he returned with the new Coach the 24 th . — 
Left the old Coach with M r . Soper to sell. 

Went to Goal with Mrs. Thomas and Miss Calef to see 
M r . Morris, one of the British Officers confined there as 
hostages for the safety of our naturalized subjects taken 
by the British and sent to England to be tried as their 
Subjects and traitors to their Country. 

N. B. Last year I gave away in Books to the amount 
of 150 dols. to sundry individuals. 

March 1. Let the pew in the S° Meeting house to Amos 
Whitney for 6 Dolls, per annum. 

Gave last November my Library estimated at Five 
Thousand Dollars to the American Antiquarian Society. 

June. Let half a Pew to Mr. Waldo's young man. 
Gave Coins & Books to A. A. S. Value 300.00 Dols. 

Produce ok the Farm, 1813. 

2 tons of good English Hay; 6 Loads of Rye, containing 
105 stakes; 1 load of Oats, mowed for fodder; 2 small 
loads of Wheat Perhaps 14 bushels; 1 load of Oats to 
thrash: (i Do.; 220 baskets of Corn in the Cop — each 
basket containing more than a bushel; Raised ISO bushels 



212 



American Antiquarian Society. 



of Potatoes ; 150 bushels of Oats measure when threshed; 
Sf).l do. of Rye when do.; 13 do, of Wheat when do.; 120 
do. of Indian Corn when shelled, besides small corn; 5 
do/en Winter Squashes; Apples — 12 Bushels; Pears — 
11 bushel; Peaches — 2 bushels; Currents — 5 bushels — 
made 20 gals, wine might have made 60; Strawberries — 
a tolerable supply; Carrots — 29 bushels; Onions — 5 Pecks; 
Cabbages, Parsnips A: Beets— A full Supply; 2 bushels 
White Beans; 2 bushels Turnips; 4 dozen Pumkins. 

January, 1814- 

2. Went to Church in the Forenoon. Mary Stratton 
who has lived with us 6 years, being now 18 years of age 
went home to her friends. 

3. Attended at the Hank this forenoon with the other 
Directors, to make out our semi annual Account for Govern- 
ment. 



1)00. 







( '; i — 1 1 received. 






5. 


For Rye, 


4.00 




Store, 


1.50 


7. 


Store, 


1.50 


25. 


I)".. 


14.00 




Cash from John 


C. 


29. 


Do.. 


a. oo 




Wright, 


165.00 


31. 


Do., 


10.55 


9. 


Corn. 


2.00 




Rye, 


a. oo 


11'. 


Bee' 1 . I'm- Ticket, 


1(1.00 




Cash. Thomas & An- 




17. 


Store, 


13.00 




drews, 1000.00 




Rye 1.50, Store I 


2.50 

Cash pai 


1 away. 






4. 


Boots fixed 3 Dol., 


I'ur- 




M. Burns, 


."i.OO 




kies 1.40, 


4.40 




Paid West A- Richard- 




8. 


Interest of Simmons' 




son, 


10.00 




Note In Wlnlc iif l*ax- 




1 ixpenses to Boston, 


5.50 




t mi. 


6.00 




1 tinner at Concert Hall 




'.). 


Family, 


2.40 




the 22 d , 


1.50 


1(1. 


Do. — Sundries, 


2.00 




Shoes, 


1.00 


12. 


Paid Chilil for l'ost 


s & 




Tobacco & Sausages & 






Rails, 


15.00 




Brush, 


1.75 


13. 


Km its 1.75, 


2.00 




Mis. Thomas, 


9.00 


15. 


Family, 


3.00 




Dr. Bancroft , 


2.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Cxpenses home. 


2.00 


17. 


For Hay, 


17.12* 


31. 


Sundries in Boston, 


12.00 




Tin npike, 


1 l.oo 




Paid Williams, black- 




IS. 


Frazer, 


1.00 




smith, 


14.48 


27. 


Lawrence, 


1(1. (Ill 









Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 21H 

Had an invitation from the British Officers in Prison 
to dine there with them and their friends. 

Spent the Evening at Sikes' Coffee house with the 
Fire Club, and supped — it being our annual meeting;. 
This Society is now of 121 years standing. I have been 
a member from its beginning. A woman by the name of 
Knights came from Framingham this day to live with ns 
as a Cook. 

4. Continue taking an Account of Stock in the Store. 

5. Met with the Worcester Soeial Library Com y . and 
was again elected a Director and Librarian. 

7. Resigned, by addressing a Letter to the Governor 
& Council, my Office, or rather appointment two years 
since of a Justice of the Court of Sessions by Gov r . Gerry. 
N. B. I never qualified myself for, or served in that office. 

S. My Week at the Hank. 

9. Went to Chh. twice. Visited the British Officers 
in Prison. 

10. Finished taking an Account of the Stock in the 
Store. 

11. Attended at the Bank. Dr. Thayer from Boston 
and Mrs. Legate from Leominster visited us. Went with 
them to prison to visit the Officers confined there. Miss 
Calef went with us. — Young Thayer, a midshipman taken 
in the Chesapeake, and lately from Halifax, visited us this 
Evening — went with [us] to prison to see the British Officers 
for some of whom they had Letters. Gov 1 '. Lincoln's 
daughters, and his son Levi 0c wife visited us. 

12. Visited the British officers, prisoners in (ioal — took 
my leave of them, hearing they were to be removed. This 
Evening to prevent their being removed — they confined 
the Turnkey — and made their escape, 9 in number. Canon 
were fired in the night, and the bells rang an alarm — 



214 American Antiquarian Society. 

Barns, cellars and houses searched for them, but none 
were found concealed therein. Mine among others. One, 
a German Officer was detected and retaken near Holden 
turnpike gate and recommitted — afterwards 4 more. 1 



'This escape caused great satisfaction to the Federalists in general, throughout 
New England. It was not a matter of much surprise, as the loose manner in which 
the prisoners were guarded, and the liberties which were given to them, were well 
known. They were allowed to receive their friends freely, many even coming 
from Boston and elsewhere, who supplied them with delicacies, and probably with 
information, to the great indignation of the Democrats, who denounced in the 
strongest language these "kind-hearted federalists," "these lovers of their enemies." 
Although repeated representations of the clanger of their escape were made to the 
marshal, no attention was apparently paid to them. Nevertheless he was quietly 
making his preparations, and when, on 10 January, Major Snelling, of the United 
States Army, arrived in Worcester with two carriage-, it was immediately conjectured 
that they were to be removed to some other place. Their life in Worcester had 
been far too pleasant for them to wish to run the risk of a less desirable place of 
confinement; and on the night of the twelfth, when the under-keeper of the jail 
entered their room, between nine and ten o'clock, to lock them in for the night, 
they suddenly seized him, held a pistol to his heart, and threatened him with instant 
death if he made the least noise or resistance. They then bound his hands and 
feet to the bed-post, tied a napkin over his mouth, and left the prison unobserved. 
In the course of half an hour he succeeded in extricating himself, and crawled to 
the jailer's house. The alarm was immediately given, and the town was thrown 
into as great a commotion as if the whole British army had descended upon it. 
Amid the firing of cannon, and the ringing of bells, horsemen were despatched in 
every direction, to try to find some trace of the fugitives, but without success; and 
before morning Major Snelling had issued handbills, offering a reward for their 
capture. The following notice appeared in the National JBgix of lit .January: — 

500 Dollars Reward ! 

United States of America, 
Diftriet of Mallachufetts, ss 

WHEREAS on the evening of Wednefday 
the 12th inft. nine of the Britifh Officers confined 
in the Goal at Worcester by order of the Prefident 
of the United States, in retaliation of the wrongs 
done and committed on the perfons of many of 
our citizens, now Prifoners of War among the 
enemy, made their efcape therefrom — namely : 

CHARLES DE VILLETTE, Major, 40 years of age, 5 

feet 7 inches high, dark complexion. 
WM. A. STEEL, Lt. 24 do. 5 feet 8 1-3 do. light do. 
ARTHUR CARTER, do. 21 do. "> ft. 7 3-4 doTligtat do. 
JOSEl'H F. GREEN, 20 do. 5 feet 10 do. light do. 



Diary of IsaiaJi Thomas. 215 

This day Lazell & Grafton took my store, and began 
to sell my books on Commission. 

13. Miss Calof and young Thayer went to Boston. 



FRANCIS DECENTA. do. 33 do. 5 feet 8 do. dark do. 
FREDERICK ZEHINDER, Captain, 38 do,0 feet, dark 

do. 
DAVID DUVALL, Lt. IS do. 5 feet G do. light do. 
ALBERT MANUEL, do. 5 feet 11 3-4 do. light do. 
CHARLES MORRIS, do. 21 do. G feet 1 do. light do. 

And it being of the higlieft importance to the 
perfonal fafety of our faid citizens that thefe Brit- 
ifh Officers fhould be fecured and returned into 
cuftody, I do hereby offer a reward of FIVE 
HUNDRED DOLLARS to any perfon or per- 
fons who may apprehend, detain and deliver over 
the faid nine Britifh prifoners to the Marfhal or 
Deputy of any Diftrict, to any Military or Naval 
Commander, to myfelf or any of my deputies, and 
fo in proportion to the number fecured, with all 
reafonable charges. 

And whereas there is juft caufe to believe that 
the faid Britifh Officers, detained as aforefaid, 
have received aid and comfort fince their confine- 
ment, and are now fecreted and a (lifted fo as to 
effectuate their final efcape, by evil difpofed and 
corrupt citizens, who prefer the intereft of the 
enemy to their own country — to fuch and to all 
others, I hereby warn them of the confequences 
refulting from fuch traitorous conduct as giving 
aid and comfort to a Publick Enemy, or his fub- 
jects, efpecially thofe fituated as are thefe Britifh 
Officers, and while I call on the good citizens of 
the nation to be active and zealous in the premi- 
fes, I do alfo offer a reward of FIVE HUN- 
DRED DOLLARS, to any perfon or perfon s, 
who, having knowledge of fuch traitorous conduct 
may give fuch information as may lead to a 
detection of the Traitors. 

Given under my hand, at Bo/ton, this thirteenth 
day of January, A. D. 1814. 

JAMES PRINCE, Mar/ ha I, 
Maffachufetts Diftrict. 

Four were retaken the following evening Dear the meeting-house in Barre, and 

fnur succeeded in reaching Canada. At lirst the belief was general that they were 
concealed in the town, and the cry of "treason" was raised; hut a thorough -can h 
proved this suspicion to he groundless. Early in February, Abijah Bigel >\v, his 
son Oliver and .lames W. Jenkins, Jr., all of Barre, were arrested on suspicion of 
having assisted the prisoners. The two former were taken before the Unite! States 



216 



American Antiquarian Society. 



15. The British Officers in prison were removed to 
[Pittsfield.] 1 

16. Snow. Only one in the family went to Church. 

18. Attended at the Morning Star Lodge and Supped. 

20. My Commission of Justice of Peace renewed, with 
the addition of Justice of the Quorum. 2 By Gov 1 ". Strong. 
Two of Amasa Paine, Esq 1- ' 8 daughters of Troy visited 
us. 

23. Went to Chh. in the forenoon. 

24. Spent the Evening with Judge Bangs. 

25. Went to the bank. 

27. Anne Sheldon went to stay a week or two with 
Mr. Levi Lincoln, jun r . 

30. Went to Chh. twice. 

31. Mrs. Thomas and my Grand daughter went to 
Lancaster. 



District Court, in Boston, and the younger Bigelow was bound over to the May 
term of the Circuit Court. Before the opening of the term, there had been a general 
exchange of prisoners, and the matter was evidently dropped. 

In 1830, Mr. Stephen Salisbury, 2nd, met and travelled in Italy, with Captain 
Arthur Carter, who declared that no American failed in his duty to his country, 
by aiding in their escape. 

1 In March, they were again removed to the Philadelphia Penitentiary, from 
which Duvall and Morris, with sixteen other-, escaped 22 April. The greater part 
of them were recaptured, bu1 almost at the same time, some of the American officers 

were released on parole, with a commission to inform the American government 

that the twenty three prisoners -cut to England had not liccn brought to trial, 
hut remained on the ordinary footing of prisoners of war, which led to the dismissal, 

on parole, of all officers on both sides. 

-'The term "quorum," as used in commissions of justices ,>f the peace, and others, 
received its name from the words of the commission, "quorum .1. H. uniim ess< 
vol it mux." (of whom we will that A. B. he one), and signified originally certain 
individuals, selected for their ability and prudence, among several holding the 
same office, without whom the remainder could not act. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



217 



Note. 30th day of this month, I was 65 years of age, 
being born Jan v . 19 th old Stile 1749. 

February, 1814- 

1. Mrs. Thomas, my grand daughter Mary Rebecca 
returned from Lancaster, with my Brother's wife who 
came on a visit. 

3. This day became Bondsman for Dr. Bancroft to 
the Judge of Probate 110,000 dollars, for his the Dr's 
fulfilling the duties of Executor on the Estates of Clarke 
and Samuel Chandler 1 deceased. 



1 Clark Chandler, the son of John Chandler the Refugee, and Dorothy Paine 
Chandler, was for a time a clerk in the office of the register of probate; was joint 
register with Timothy Paine from 17(i(i to 1774; and town clerk from 1768 to 1775. 
In 1774, while he was town clerk, the instructions of the town to .Joshua Bigelow, 
its representative in the General Court, requiring him, among other things, to take 
a decided stand against the objectionable acts of Parliament, were vehemently 
opposed by the royalists, who petitioned for a special meeting, in the hop* of securing 









Cash received. 








Jan. 


1. 


In the Store, 


5.00 


11. 


Do. 2, Bank 99, 




101.00 




2. 


From the Bank, 


12.00 




Cash reel from S. 


Tayh 


r 




3. 


For Corn. 


2.00 




on mortgage, 




200.00 






Store, 


2.50 


12. 


Borrowed of 


Mrs. 




4. 


Do., 


3.20 




Thomas, 




20.00 




5. 


Borrowed of Mr. Burn- 




Store, 




4.00 






side, 


35.00 


20. 


Store, 




8.77 




t;. 


Store, 


9.00 




Rent in Boston, 




180.00 




7. 


Do., 


1.02* 


27. 


Rent of Barracks 


3 






8. 


Do., 


1.00 




weeks 




3.00 




10. 


Do., 


2.00 




Worcester Library C-, 


22.40 








Cash pai 


1 away. 










1. 


Wood, 


0.9 H 


13. 


Sundries family, 




1.80 






Charles s father. 


5.00 


18. 


Family sundries 




3.00 




3. 


Hank, 


51.83 




Paid L. Flagg, 




1.00 




4. 


Fales W 1, 


5.00 


22. 


Paid Mrs. T., 




20.00 






Nathaniel Flagg, 


1.75 




Mrs. T. family, 




25.00 






Daniel Waldo, 


1000.00 




Taxes in Boston 




10.02 




5. 


Paid towards my 




24. 


Post office Bill, 




7.74 






brother's Barn, 


50.00 




Fales — wood. 




5.00 






Paid for Wood to 






Knights Wood, 




22.10 






Knights, 


3.00 


28. 


Paid Mr. Burns 


de, 


35.00 




6. 


E. S. Geyer, 


2.25 




Paid 1 ). Brown ii 


Iciest 


, 23.10 






S. Allen — Turnpike, 


6.32i 




Paid Bradford & 


Rea. 


, 20.42 




12. 


Sent I. Thomas A; Co 
Lent Miss Calef. 


, 400.00 
28.00 


29. 


Paid Fales, 




5.00 



218 American Antiquarian Society. 

Finished shelling Indian Corn which I raised this 
year. — the quantity shelled 120 bushels of good sound corn. 

4. Settled my Hook with D r . Bancroft. Was yester- 
day seized by the Rheumatism or rather Hip gout — but 
not violently — confined with it all day. Mr. Williams 
came up from Boston. 

5. Hip gout better — But confined all day. Mr. Wil- 
liams returned to Boston. 

6. Did not go to Church — Mr. Soper came up from 
Boston on his way to Albany. 

8. Anne Sheldon came home yesterday — spent the 
day — returned at Night. Charles's Brother died — Charles 
went to Spencer. 

9, Meeting of the Singers of both the religious Societies 
at the North Meeting house— they walked in procession 
about 50 — a Sermon by Dr. Bancroft. Dr. Austin 1 attended 



a reconsideration of the resolutions. Failing in this they presented a loyal protest 
against them, signed by fifty-two inhabitants, which was also refused by the town, 
whereupon Mr. Chandler, who was one of the signers, secretly, and without authority, 
copied the protest upon the records, and also sent a copy to Boston, which was 
published in two of the newspapers. This so enraged the strong Whig majority, 
that in a special town meeting it was voted, "that the Town Clerk do, in the presence 
of the town, Obliterate, Erase, or otherwise deface the said recorded protest, and 
the names thereunto subscribed, so t hat it may become utterly illegible anil un- 
intelligible"; and he was forced, in open town meeting, not only to draw his pen 
through the records, but to dip his fingers in the ink and blot out the page. 

In June, 1775, Mr. Chandler went to Nova Scotia, and on his return, in September, 
surrendered himself as a Tory. He was imprisoned by the cpmmittee on suspicion 
of having held intercourse with the enemy, but was released on parole in December, 
and permitted to live in Lancaster, lie afterwards bad a store at the corner of 
Main and Pleasant streets. 

Mr. Chandler never married. He was extremely eccentric in his manner and 
dress, always wearing bright red small-clot lies, and was the subject of the jeers 
and derision of those around him, which he rarely failed to repay with their full 
value. 

[Born, Worcester, 1 December, 1743. Died, Worcester, 1 June, 1804.] 

'Samuel Austin, the son of Samuel and Lydia Walcut Austin, of New Haven, 
Conn., enlisted in the Continental army soon alter the outbreak of the Revolution, 
at the age of fifteen, as a substitute for his father, and served in New York until 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 219 

but did not perform any part in the Exercises. My brother's 
wife went home with the post rider to Lancaster. 

13. Went to Chh. this afternoon. 

15. Attended at the Bank. 

16. Mrs. T. had company. 

IS. Mr. Soper came from Albany on his return to 
Boston. 



the British took possession of the city. For the next two or three years his time 
was divided between school-teaching an<l military service, until, when he was twenty, 
he decided to enter a profession. The law was his first choice, and he began his 
Studies with Judge Charles Chauncy, in New Haven; but finding that he required 
a higher classical education, he entered the sophomore class at Yale, in 1781, and 
was graduated in 1784. Abandoning the law, he prepared for the ministry with 
Rev. Jonathan Edwards. While he was a candidate, he was principal of an academy 
in Norwich. A decided Calvinist, he declined two calls during this period, — to the 
church in Hampton, Conn., and to become the colleague of Dr. Livingston, the 
minister of the Middle Dutch Church in New York — because he required a stricter 
creed than that of either society. In 1780 he became the minister of the church 
in Fair Haven, in the city of New Haven, but strong disapprobation of the so-called 
"half-way covenant" caused him to ask for dismission at the end of three years, 
and he accepted a call to the First Church in Worcester, which had then been 
without a settled minister for six years. Immediately after his installation, 29 
September, 1790, he began to give new vigor to the doctrinal basis of the church, 
and a new creed and covenant were adopted, whereby its orthodoxy was conformed 
to the strictest type. 

In 181") Dr. Austin accepted the presidency of the University of Vermont, which 
had been closed for three years by the war, and its buildings occupied as barracks. 
He however retained his pastoral connection in Worcester, on account of a civil 
process which hail been commenced in his name against the town, for the recovery 
of lands, and did not receive his dismission until December, 1818. His untiring 
and steady labors in trying to bring the college back to its old standing greatly 
impaired his health, and feeling that he could not realize his expectations of usefulness 
to the institution, he resigned in 1821. 

In 1S22 he became the minister of a small and poor society in Newport, H. I., 
which had formerly been under Rev. Samuel Hopkins, giving to it his services; 
but increasing infirmities compelled him to retire, and he returned to Worcester 
in L826. He afterwards preached in Millbury for a time. The death of his nephew 
and adopted son, with whom he lived, soon after, physical weakness and pecuniary 
losses, brought on mental troubles, and for the four years preceding his death he 
was a religious monomaniac. 

Dr. Austin was undoubtedly the ablest and most distinguished of all the ministers 
who have occupied the pulpit of the First Parish. He devoted himself largely to 



220 American Antiquarian Society. 

19. Anne Sheldon returned home from Mr. Lincoln's — 
where she staid 3^ weeks. 

21. Had a turn of the Colic. 

22. Attended at the Bank. 

23. Ball this Evening. My Granddaughter Mary Re- 
becca went to it. Anne Sheldon went again to Mr. Levi 
Lincoln, jun rs . 

24. Dined with a number of others with Win. Stedman, 

Esq r . 

25. Anne Sheldon returned home. 

27. AYent to Chh. in the forenoon. Mrs. T. used the 
Coach — having used the Sleigh weeks past. 

28. Let the place in Boylston for 3 years. 

A very particular and extraordinary kind of Fever has 
appeared this and the last year. It has prevailed in all 
parts of the United States— but not generally excepting 
in some places — Many have died and were carried off very 
soon after being taken ill — often in 3 days. In several 
instances the greatest part of a family young and old 



the investigation of theological questions, and was often called to sit in councils 
mi difficult cases. A man of strong convictions, he preached with great freedom 
on public affairs, and his fast day sermons especially, were noted, and often gave 
offence. One, preAched at the beginning of the war, in .Inly, 1812, caused great 
excitement, and he published it with the inscription on the title pane: '"Published 
from the press by the desire of some who heard it ami liked it; by the desire of 

-nine who heard it and did not like it ; and l>y the desire of others who did not hear 

it. Inn imagine they should not have liked it if they had." In L808, he collected 

and published, at Worcester, the first complete edition of the work- of the elder 

President Edwards, in eight volumes. 

He was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Missionary Society; was active 

in originating the General Association of Massachusetts; was a member ol the 

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis-ion-; and was one of the pro- 
jector- of and a contributor to the " Panoplist ." He received the degree of D.D. 

from William-, in IS07. Dr Austin married, in 1788, .leiu-lia, daughter of Dr. 
Samuel Hopkins of Had ley, Mas-. 

[Born, New Haven, 7 November, 1760. 

Died Glastonbury, Conn., 4 December, 1830.] 



Diary of /sain// Thomas. 



221 



have died. — This fever seems to be allied to what is called 
spotted Fever; hut the symptoms attending it are various — 
The spotted fever has also been prevalent in many parts 
of the Country and often proved very fatal. 

March, 1S1/+. 

1. A number of British Prisoners, upwards of 200, 
under Guard, passed through town from Pittsfield for Salem, 
to be exchanged. Baggage Waggons. Moses Thomas 
from Lancaster. 

2. Spent the Evening with .Judge Bangs. 

5. Sally the Girl in the kitchen Sick. Had the Doctor. 

6. Went to Church twice. 

7. My son came up in the Stage from Boston. Town 
Meeting. My Grand daughter and Anne L. Sheldon began 
a quarter at Dancing School. 

8. Lawrence went to Charlton to see and get a woman 
to live with us. 

12. My son returned to Boston. 



Feb. 1. 







Cash received. 






1. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 


5.84 


1 1. 


Pec 1 , for Corn, 


10.00 




Rent of Barracks, 


1.00 


13. 


Lazell <v Grafton a 


»out, 3.50 




Corn, 


•_>.oo 


1 1. 


Corn, 


LOO 


5. 


Kent of Mr. Williams, 


100.00 


21. 


Lazell & Grafton, 


J 8.24 


G. 


From Miss Calef, 


2S.00 




Of IK Paine. 


L79.00 


8. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 
Barracks, 


6.3 4 

1.00 
Paid 


28. 
away. 


Lazell it Grafton, 


3. 1 


1. 


Beef & Sundries, 


1.00 


L3. 


Paid Hank. 


100.50 


5. 


Paid O r . < ireen, 


14.50 




Furs, &c, 


1.50 




Thaxter for Cyder, 


2.00 


is. 


Laid LlaKC, 


3.00 


8. 


Paid Fales, 


5.00 


22. 


Pork, 


1.5 1 




Family and S. Duncan 


1.50 




Paid Fales, 


10.00 


9. 


Maynard, the butcher. 


20.78 


23 


Paid M'. Waldo, 


IS! 1.20 




Mrs. T. of Lancaster 


26. 


Knights, 


2.00 




2.00, family 1, 


3.00 


°s 


For the family, 


2.00 


1. 


Paid N. Patch, 


10.00 




I) r . Austin, 


LOO 



222 American Antiquarian Society. 

13. Went to Chh. twice. Contribution for Portsmouth 
Sufferers by the late Fire. 1 Mr. Samuel Armstrong on 
his Journey home to Boston from Philadelphia, spent the 
day with us. 

14. Assessor of the National Land and House Tax, 
came to take an Inventory of my Estate. 

16. Rev. Timothy Alden 2 now of New-york made me 
a visit and tarried over night. Mrs. T. dismissed Knights 
our Cook. 

17. After Dinner M r . Alden went on to Newyork in 
the Stage. He and D r . Bancroft dined with us. 

20. Went to Church twice. 

21. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit. 

22. Killed a Hog — for family use. 

23. Mrs. Seaver — unwell — had a Doctor — Moses Thomas 
visit. 

24. Heard of the sudden Death of Seymour Sheldon. 



'Tliis fire which broke out on the evening of 22 December, 1813, burned for 
six hours and swept everything before it to the water's edge, destroying one hun- 
dred and eighty dwelling houses and sixty-four other buildings. The loss was 
nearly three hundred thousand dollars, and over seventy-seven thousand dollars 
was contributed by towns all over New England, and even farther south, for (lie 
relief of the sufferers. Portsmouth had been unusually unfortunate in her losses 
by fire, for 21) December, 1S02, one hundred and eighteen buildings were destroyed, 
and 21 December, 1N(H>, twenty-four. 

'-Timothy Alden, I he son of Ilev. Timothy Alden, of Yarmouth, Mass., was 
graduated from Harvard in L794, and from 1799 to 1805 was the minister of the 
Congregational churcb in Portsmouth, N. II. He also taught school in thai town 
from L800 to 1808 and at the academy in Newark, N. J., from 1810 to 1N17. In 
1817 he founded Alleghany College, in Meadville, Penn., was its first president, 
and collected for it a valuable library. In 1831 want of patronage caused him 
to resign, and in the following scar he again devoted himself In educational work 
in Cincinnati, and three years later was the principal of an academy in East Liberty, 
near Pittsburg. 
JM irn, Yarmouth, 28 August, 1771. Died, Pittsburg, Penn., 5 July, 1S:S9.1 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



•2-2?, 



. 26. Mrs. Seaver ended her visit with us & went to 
M r . Maccarty's. Bought a Cow of T. Wheeler for which 
I paid 40 Dollars. Lawrence went a 2 d time to Oxford 
for a woman to live with us — but did not get her. Court 
of Com. Pleas ended its Session. 

27. Went to Chh. twice. J. Stiles removed out of my 
house on the Common yesterday. 

28. My week at the Bank. 

29. Attended at Bank. 

30. Exchanged Oxen with Geer, and paid him 10 dols 
for the Exchange — Engaged to sell the place at Boylston 
for 1040 dols. 

On the 20 th of this month died after one day's illness 
at Walpole, N. H. Seymour Sheldon a young man who 
lived with me and was in my Store in that place. Son of 
M r . Wm. Sheldon now in Jamaica. Seymour and his 
Sister Anne, now in my family, were left by their father, 
under my care, about 2 years since. 



Mar. 









Cash received. 




7. 


Rent of Pew. So. 


Meet 


e. 6.00 


16. 


Of Heley for Corn, 6.00 


8. 


Cash of Lazell & Grafton 10.52 


18. 


Of IX Bancroft, 105.00 




Do. Part Kent of 


New 


- 


21. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 14. 7 




bury St. house, 




10.0(1 


28. 


Of L. Heywood s Note, 30.00 


12. 


Rec*. of Sam 1 . Taylo 




28. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 26.37 




Mortgage, 




322.25 


31. 


Rec'd of M r . Burnside 


14. 


Of Lazell & Graft 


on. 


15.60 




on W. Rices Ex"., 14.85 


15. 


Of Earle, 




7. 124 
Cash pai 


d away. 




1. 


Family, 




1.00 


16. 


Paid Knights our ( look, 


3. 


Mrs. Thomas, 




20.00 




and dismissed her, s.oo 


4. 


Paid Fales, 




6.00 


22. 


Beef. 2.14 


10. 


Plates, 




1.00 


23. 


Meat, oil, &c, 2 50 


12. 


Paid for Beef, 




:•,.(>< > 


24. 


Sundries 2.00, Frazicr 


13. 


Paid Fales, 




14.00 




1.(1(1. 3.00 


14. 


( 'ontribution, 




12.(10 


26. 


Paid Theop*. Wheeler, 


15. 


Flour, Chapin, 




7.00 




Esq', for a Cow, 40.00 




Tar, 




2. so 


30. 


Paid Geer Exchange of 




Patch, N. 




16.00 




Oxen, 10.00 




Bank, 




149 78 


31. 


P. .st age, 0.17 




Revenue Office, 


for 










Carriage, 




7 00 







224 American Antiquarian Society. 

April, 1S14- 

3. Wont to Church twice. Insects which produce 
("anker worms very numerous, and ascending the Trees 
briskly. 

4. Gov r . & Senators chosen — did not Vote. Fire Club 
Meeting. 

5. Attended at the bank. 

6. Began Work in the Garden. 

7. Fast day. Went to Chh. twice. Charles went to 
his fathers in Spencer. 

8. My brother came to see me. 

9. My brother returned home. Bought a Load of Hay. 
Bought half a ton Plaster of Paris. Taken unwell in the 
night. Fever in the head. 

10. Got up in the morning — but felt so unwell that I 
went to bed again, laid in bed all day — Dr. Green attended 
me — gave me active medicine. 

11. Continued in bed till this morning when I got up — 
went below — but returned again to my Chamber. 

12. Sold a Lot of Land and House in W. Boylston, 
1050 dollars — transacted some other business with reluc- 
tance — kept Chamber most of the day — Mrs. Seaver spent 
the day with us. Supreme Court. 

13. Felt better, and kept below stairs all day. 

14. Almost as well as I usually am. 

15. Wrote to W. Sheldon in Jamaica. 

17. Rode abroad — Aurora Boreal is — Mrs. Seaver — Cholic. 

IS. Rode out. 

19. Dined with the family lor the first time since I 
have been unwell. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 22. r > 

20. Attended a Com ee . on repairs of the Bank house. 

21. Sued on an Action of Law by parson Austin, to 
recover Land claimed as ministerial Land which I pinch, 
about 20 years ago, from the heirs of the late minister 
who had a warrantee deed of the same from the town near 
50 years ago. 1 

22. Supreme Court ended. 

23. Sent Seaver to Fitchburgh to get a woman to live 
with us. Henry Patch, a Farmer in this place, died sud- 
denly — I spoke to him as he passed my house about half 
an hour before. 

24. Did not go to Church — Parson Cotton preached. 

25. Attended Parish Meeting — was Moderator. 

26. Went to Boston in the Stage at one in the after- 
noon — arrived at nine. Lydia, a young Woman from 
Fitchburgh came to live with us. 

28. Met with the Historical Society — Borrowed two 
Books of their Library — The Society agrees not to celebrate 
in Public annually — Dined with Major Samuel Thayer — 
Got money for Rent, &c. 

29. Took several long walks — Saw Miss B. and her 
mother. Went to the Theatre with my son, his wife, and 
two of their daughters, Frances & Augusta. Dined with 
Major Thayer. 

30. Great parade of the Washington Benevolent Society. 
Mrs. Thomas came from Worcester to Boston, in the Coach. 

William Andrews, and the girl who lives with us accom- 
panied her. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 



1 See entries 2 and 3 October, 1815, and 8 April, 1817, and note 
15 



226 



American Antiquarian Society. 



May, 1S14. 

1. Went to Christ Church in the afternoon. Mrs. 
T. and myself dined at my sons — took tea at Mr. E. T. 

Andrews. 

2. Sat out for Worcester in the coach with only Law- 
rence, the Coachman — Left Boston at 8 °Clock in the 
Morning — arrived at Worcester at six. Came the old road 
thro' Sudbury, &c, dined at dates in Marlboro. 

3. Town of Worcester — voted not to pay me about 
600 dollars, which I advanced to build the large Bridge, at 
the Square — a dishonorable mode of discharging a debt. — 
the case is so circumstanced that I cannot sue the town — 
and must lose this money which I advanced. 



Cash received. 
Apr. 4. Of Lazell & Grafton, 3.16 



5. Rec*; at Bank, 450.0(1 

12. Payment towards Land 

in W. Boylston, 100.00 

Cash from E. Howe 
towards Rent, L8.00 

14. From my son — Rent of 

Shop in Boston, 27.50 

18. Lazell & Grafton, 2 

weeks, 16.91 

23. Bee' 1 , of Mrs. Morse for 

Bent, 15.00 

Cash pai 
1. Straps to boots, 0.37$ 

4. Charles, 1.00 

5. Sent to Walpole, 100(10 
I'd. Mrs. dividend at 

Bank, 21.00 

Do. Miss Weld, 15.00 

Do. Miss Armstrong, 21.00 

6. Post Office, 3.72 
Books at Auction .40 — 

Tar 50, 0.90 

Blaster of Paris, 1 1.00 

Tar, Broom, Arc, 1.40 

1 2. Baid Bow ker for money 

I,, Walpole. 2.50 

Mrs. Thomas, 20.00 

19. Haj Seed, 7.25 
Paid for Hay, 9.75 

23. Paid Webb for Shaving 

1 year. 32.00 



25. 



2(i. 



28. 



Re< 


'. of A. Webb 


f( 


r 


11 


ent, 




75.00 


Do. 


of M r . Burnsidt 


f( 


r 


( 


utes's debt, 




16.92 


Do. 


of Bew M>. Beh 


a] 


, 10.00 


Do. 


of Lazell and ( 


ra 


f- 


t( 


m, 




65.81 


Do. 


l.e\ i Bice. 




3.00 


Do. 


for Rent in Bost 


m 


ISO. 00 


Do. 


from Loan < Mlicc 


and 


Banks, 




105.72 


Do. 


of Mr. Andrew 


s. 


4.67 



29. 



Paid do. his Account, 4.15 
Pd. Sever to fro to Fitch- 

burgh, LOO 

Paid for Posts for Fences, l.oo 
Do. in grafting Trees, 

Quince Bushes, A.e.. 2.00 
D°. horse and Waggon 

to Fitchburgh, 3. 00 

Passage to Boston, 3.25 

Baid Williams & Moore 

for groceries, 75. 00 

Do. Mr. Allen for Sta- 
tionery, 53.00 
Do. for 'lickcts Mr. 

Spooner, 100.00 

Do. M. B., 20.00 

Do. Historical Society, 7.50 



Diary qf Isaiah 'Thomas. 227 

5. Flags came to work with me as a Fanner — (I 
have now three fanners.) wages 16 dolls, per month, he 
to find his own liquor. 

6. Mary Rebecca went to a ball. 

8. Went to Chh. in the afternoon. M'. Holcomb 
preached. Small appearance Aurora Borealis. 

10. Lawrence went to Boston with the Carriage for 
Mrs. Thomas. — Attended at the Hank. Mary Rebecca 
went to a party at M r . Blake's. 

12. Mrs. Thomas returned home, and brought Win. 
Andrews, and the girl with her. 

diaries Fenimer, a Negro, who has lived with me 
nearly nine years was free this day — I have paid 100 dols. 
to his father, according to agreement, who kept the whole. 
I expected as did Charles, that he would have at least 
half of it. 

14. Killed a Calf, wt of the 4 quarters 90 lb. 

15. A young candidate, M r . Abbot preached for D r . 
Bancroft who is absent on a journey — went to Chh. in the 
afternoon. 

16. Bargained for Sale a Lot on Thomas Street with 
a small house to Jonah Pierce 630 dols. reserving the Crop. 

17. Attended at the Bank. 

IS. Received the first Dividend from the Stock in Trade 
at the Tan yard C". One hundred dollars. Charles 
Fenimer went to seek a place to work. 

21. Flagg began boarding at my house this evening. 

22. Went to Chh. twice. 

2.1. Anne Sheldon went to reside with Mrs. Parker 1 in 



1 Martha, daughter of Levi and Martha Waldo Lincoln, was married to Leonard 

M ly Parker, the son of James ainl Sarah Dickenson Parker, of Shirley, Mass., 

who was then practising law in Charlestown, Mass 

[Born, Worcester, 19 October, 1785. Died, Charlestown, 19 April, 1822.] 



22<x American Antiquarian Society. 

Charleston. Mrs. Parker was married this morning. She 
is the daughter of the Hon. Levi Lincoln. — Miss Sheldon 
is her companion. Gave a Deed of a house and Lot in 
Thomas Street, took a Mortgage and rec d 130 dols. part 

payment. 

Lydia, a young woman who came to live with us as 
a Cook was dismissed — She was a slut, lazy, knew nothing 
of her business — and appeared to be too ignorant even 
for a turnspit. 

24. Mrs. Thomas went to West Boylston. 

25. Election. 

26. Saw a Gentleman from Natchez who said he had 
a packet for me from Gov r . Sergeant, but he lost his Trunk 
and all his papers in Maryland and with them the packet 
for me — it respected I am told the A. A. Society. 

28. Sowed Carrot seed. 

29. Went to Chh. twice— Mr. Professor Willard 1 
preached. 

30. Went to Boston with my. Grand daughter Mary 
Rebecca in the Coach with Lawrence — dined in Fram- 
ingham. 



•Sidney Willard, (he son of Rev. Joseph Willard, president of Harvard, was 
graduated from thai college in 179s, and from 1800 to L80S was its librarian. In 
L807 In' was elected to the Hancock professorship of Hebrew and other Oriental 
languages, and occupied this chair until his resignation, in 1831, performing also 
tin- duties of professor of English, and in 1827 took charge of the Latin department. 
\ 1 1 «- 1 In- retiremenl from college duties, he was a member of the executive council, 
served several terms in the General Court, anil from 1848 to 1850 was Mayor of 
Cambridge. 

Professor Willard was a fellow of the American Academy of Aits and Sciences. 

a member of the Anthology Club, and one of the founders of the "Literary Miscel- 
lany." He also established and edited the "Monthly Review," was at one time 
editor of the "Christian Register," and a frequent contributor to other periodical 
literature. 

[Born, Beverly, Mass., 1'.) September. 1780. Died, Cambridge, 6 December, 1850.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 
June, 1S14- 



221) 



1. Attended the Stated Meeting of the American 
Antiq. Society. — Elected above 70 members 1 — mostly resid- 
ing in other States. Went to the Athenaeum. Went to 
Cambridge in the forenoon. 



'James T. B. Watts, of Jamaica; Thomas Jefferson; DeWitt Clinton; John 
Pintard, John McKesson, Rev. William Harris, President of Columbia College, 
Rev. John M. Mason, Provost of Columbia College, Henry Gahn, John O. Bogent, 
Prussian Consul, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, James Kent, Chancellor of New York, 
of New York; John Jay; Peter Augustus Jay; Daniel D. Tompkins; Broekholst 
Livingston; Oliver Wolcott ; Robert Fulton; Rev. John Chester, of Hudson, N. 
Y.; Stephen Van Renssalaer and Horatio Gates Spofford, of Albany; Rufus King; 
General Joseph Bloomtield; Elias Boudinot; Hew Ashbel Green, President of 



May 



11. 
14. 
1(5. 



May 



Cash received 
Duncan's Note, 16.50 

Of Maj-\ Sturtevant, 113.50 
Rent of M*. Williams, 20.00 
Lazell & Grafton for 

sales at times, 17. 3 

Hec'd 5"'. Rent in 

Boston, 23.50 

Cash of Maj r . Sturte- 
vant, note, 80.00 





Cash pail 


away. 


1. 


Paid April 29 th Theatre, 5.00 


10 




Farrier's Bill, 2.87 






Kimball's Debt to B. 


11 




Andrews, 31.14 






Barber, 0.G8 






Mrs. T. in Boston, 2(1.00 


12 




Mrs. T. her own from 






Bank, Arc, 20.00 




2. 


Expenses to Worcester, 1.50 






Frazier, pd for her in 


14 




Boston. 0.27 




3. 


Lawrence, 2.00 


17 




Oranges, &c, 0.50 






Taxes for 1813, MS. IS 


is 




Split Peas 87i, Toll 17, 1. 4* 


10 


4. 


Beef and Butter, 2.00 


23 


5. 


Veal and Butter and 






Pigeons, 1 .90 


24 


7. 


Veal and Sundries, 1.50 






Sent to Mrs. Thomas 


25 




now in Boston, 20.00 


27 


9. 


Rum & Brandy, & 
Butter, Veal, 2.20 


30 



First Dividend of A. 

Wilder it Co., 100.00 

Lazell & Grafton, 22. 8 

Of Jonah Pierce,sale Lot, 130.00 
On Stiles Exn. for Rent, 30.00 
Of Hamilton for 

Tickets, 57. OS 

Cash towards Land in 

Boylston, 100.00 



Butcher 1.00, Lawrence 

10.00 A 1.00, 12.00 

Do. 0.25, Anne L. Shel- 
don 16.00, Patch 12., 28.25 
Lydia, 2.50 

Charles Fennimer's 

father, 38.20 

Mrs. Thomas, Rec 4 . for 

Kent Boston, 23.50 

Sundries for the Family, 2.00 
Paid N. Patch, 12. oo 

Family, 1.20 

Cash for the family, 1.00 

Do. Do., 1.00 

Do. Do., O.S0 

Boy to assist in 

ploughing, loo 

Frazier, 1.00 

Weekly Messenger, 2.50 

Sundries for family, 1.00 

Family, 2.67 

Expenses to Boston, 3.00 



280 American Antiquarian Society. 

2. Walked over to Charlestown, visited Dr. Morse. 1 



Nassau Hall College, N. .1.; Gouverneur Morris; Benjamin Smith Barton, William 
Barton and Rev. Henry Muhlenburg, of Philadelphia; Rev. James Richards and 
Dr. Abraham Clark, of Newark. N. J.; John Leeds Bozman, of Maryland; Rev. 
Charles Coffin, of Tennessee; Richard Rush; Rev. William Allen, of Pittsfield; 

Joseph Story; Professor John Farrar and l.oammi Baldwin, of Cambridge; Kil- 
borne Whitman, of Pembroke; Nathaniel Spooner, Joshua Thomas, Rossiter Cotton 
aiid Dr. James Thacher, of Plymouth; James Sever, of Kingston; William Baylies, 
of Bridgewater; John Winslow. of Hanover; Dr. Isaac Winslow, of Marshfield; 
Caleb Thaxter and Ebenezer Gay, of Hingham; Nathaniel Freeman and Rev, 
Jonathan Burr, of Sandwich; Jonas Whitman, David Scudder and Dr. Samuel 
Savage, of Barnstable; John Reed, of Yarmouth; Isaac Winslow Whitman, of 
Brewster; Dr. dad Hitchcock, of Scituate; Jeremiah Smith, of Exeter, N. H. ; 
David Cobb, of Goldsboro, Me.; George Partridge, of Duxbury; Samuel W. Pome- 
roy, of Brighton; Governor John S. Oilman, of New Hampshire; Benjamin West, 
of Charlestown, N. H.; Thomas Pinckney, of Charleston, S. C. ; Christopher Grant 
Champlin, of Newport; Nathaniel Adams, of Portsmouth, N. H.; Jabez Bowen of 
Providence; Nicholas Tillinghast , of Taunton; William Bond, of Dorchester ; Tobias 
Lear, of Virginia; Samuel Sewall, of Marblehead; Christopher Gore, of Waltham; 
Samuel L. Knapp, of Newburyport ; Rev. Eliphalet Nott, President of Onion 
College; Charles P. Sumner, Thomas Dawes, William Tudor and John Coffin Jones, 
of Boston; and Samuel Jennison, Jr., of Worcester. 

1 Jedidiah Morse, the son of Jedidiah and Sarah Morse, of Woodstock, Conn., 
was graduated from Yale in 1783, and while studying theology under Jonathan 
Edwards and Samuel Watts, opened a young ladies' school in New Haven, and was 
for a time a tutor at Yale. No school geography having been printed in America 
up to this time, he prepared one in manuscript, which was copied by his pupils, 
and thus the study of geography was introduced into the schools of this country. 
He enlarged the work, which in March, 17X4. was printed in INmo. in New Haven, 
and for fifteen or twenty years it u:is the le\t book in the common schools generally 
throughout the country. This was the beginning of a series of geographies and 
gazetteers which not only became celebrated in America, but in Europe, where 
his larger geographical works were reprinted. 

From 17S0 to 1820 he was the minister of the Congregational church in Charles- 
town, Mass., and during his pastorate was prominentlj engaged in the Unitarian 
eonl roversy. He was the principal founder of t he "Panoplist, or Christ [an Armory." 
in [803, a Calvinistic publication, and of the "Boston Recorder"; and was one 
of the principal agents in founding the Theological Seminary in Andovtr. He 
was also influential in promoting the const ruction of the Middlesex Canal. Alter 

leaving Chariest own, in 1S2H, he was commissioned by the government to visit the 
Indian t ribes in t he nort hwesl , and one result of his work, entitled "Indian Report," 
was published in 1822. 'Among his other works tire a "Compendious History of 
New England" and "Annals of the American Revolution." 

Dr. Mors,, received the degree of A.M. from Princeton, in 1787, and thai of D.D. 
from the University of Edinburgh in 1794. As minister of the church in Charles- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 231 

3. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 

4. Went to Cambridge — visited the Botanical Garden 

in C". with my son, his Wife, Miss Weld and my Grand- 
daughter Mary Rebecca. 

5. Went twice to the Chapel Church. 

6. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. Settled Annual 
Ace*, with C°. 

7. Returned thro' Charlestown to Worcester, with 
Miss Mary Andrews and Miss Anne L. Sheldon. 

8. Began to put down the Stone posts and Iron Chain 
on the hill south from my house. 

9. Mary Andrews went to a Ball. 

11. Anne L. Sheldon went to Thompson to keep School. 
Rode 4 miles in a one horse waggon with Judge Paine. 

12. Mr. Thayer preached. Went to Chh. twice. Frazer 
unwell — had the Doctor. About 300 Sailors in Coaches 
Waggons, &c. passed th.ro" Worcester, yesterday and today, 
bound to the Lakes. 

This day (Sunday) 5 waggon Loads of Specie, arrived 
here from the State Bank in Boston, to be deposited in our 
Bank— about 300,000 dols. 

13. No Female help in the family but a little girl and 
the Housekeeper — a thing which has not happened in the 
family for 30 years — Housekeeper sick. 

16. A young negro woman named Louis came to live 
with us; also, a young married Woman, as Cook, by the 
name of Shirley. 



town he was ex-offldo a member "f the Hoard of Overseers of Harvard University; 
was an active member of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and of many other 
Learned and scientific bodies. 

He married, in 17X9, Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Samuel Breese, of Shrewsbury, 
N. J. His eldest son was Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, 

[Born, Woodstock, Conn.. 23 August, 17(11. Died, New Haven, 9 June, 1826.] 



232 



American Antiquarian Society. 



Met this Evening with a number of Gentlemen of 

Worcester, and formed a Society for the preventing as 
far as possible the robbing of Gardens, fields, fruit yards 
or orchards. ■ 

19. Went to Chh. twice. 100 more Sailors went on 
thro' Worcester to the Lakes. 

20. Went to Princeton, Sterling & Lancaster and to 
see my Brother. 

21. Went from my Brother's to Capt. Ward's in Lan- 
caster — dined with him; then went to Sterling — bought a 
horse — went to my Nephew's — took Miss Mary Bancroft 
to Worcester. Began to make Hay. Went to the Factory 
at West Boylston. 

23. Court of Com. Pleas this week. 

24. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Mary Andrews went to 
Lancaster. Got in Three Loads of Hay. St. John's day 



June 2. 



11. 



Cash received. 
Woe' 1 , towards Rent in 

Boston, 18.00 

Kpci. for llis>. Printing, 5.00 
Rec d . towards Rent in 

Boston, 23.00 

Do. of LazellA Grafton, 11.1 I 



29. 



Do. of Tho 3 . Smith, 

Lexington, Kent}*., 40.00 
Do. of Col. Hice on Note, 50.00 
D.». of Lazell A: Orafton, 11. .50 
Do. of Lazell & Grafton-, 10.40 
I )o. lor k a pew, 3.50 





Cash paii 


1 away. 




1. 


Toll at ( Cambridge bridge, 0. 10 




Glass Arlington, 12. 00 




Paid blacksmith, 2.70 


1(1. 


Lumber to repair t la- 


2. 


Paid for Sonus, ballads, 




Stable, 20.30 




&C, 4.50 




Si iciel v fin- 1 he del ect ion 




A. S. .'v M. 11., 20.00 




of Gardens, &c, LOO 


3. 


Paid Callender iV- Jen- 




Sundries — family, 1.00 




kins, IS. s 


21. 


Expenses to Princeton 




1),,. Hatch. 0.5O 




.V Lancaster, 2.00 


4. 


Paid Bradford .V Peed, 16.00 




Paid for a Borse, 150.00 




Paid Lawrence, 5. on 




Blacksmith Williams. 5.00 


6. 


P.nd i,,r Grafton 3.00, 


24. 


Paid Duncan I'm' two 




Soper's Hill n.50, l 1.50 




Soap Tubs, 5.00 


7. 


Expenses home, 3.50 


25. 


Paid for meat. 1.00 


11. 


Mrs. Thomas, 10.00 




Dr. Bancroft, 19.36 




Dancing School, for 




Lemons, 00.75 




Children, 17.50 




Charles 2 days work, 2.00 


13. 


Flour, ll.oo 




Sundries, 1.00 


15. 


Butter 3 and postage 


26. 


Mrs. Thomas, 10.00 




Centinel 1, 4.00 




Teaming, 0.67 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 233 

celebrated at Northboro. Hired Charles Fennimer for 2 
days. 

25. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Andrews returned from 
Lancaster. 

26. Went to Chh. twice. Got in one small Load of Hay. 

27. Dr. Bancroft went to Vermont. 

28. Attended at the Bank. 

29. Got in two large loads of Hay making 5^ tons of 
hay. 

July, 1814. 

1. Finished weeding the garden. Got in two Loads 
more of Hay. 

3. Went to Chh.- once. A young Candidate, M r . Read 
preached. 

4. Independence Celebrated by both political Parties, 
separately. The Federalists dined in a large Booth, on 
my Land, near the north meeting house — The other party 
dined at Wheeler's Tavern — Each formed in procession, 
and saluted each other as they passed— each had a military 
escort, and a band of Musick. — The federalists had their 
Exercises in the south Meeting house — the other in the 
north meeting house — Two toasts were reciprocated — with 
a discharge of artillery — a Com ee accompanied with a band 
of Music, waited one on the other party with the toasts— 
The federal party was the largest about 400, and really 
the most respectable, — dined with the Federalists. 1 



'The Federal oration was delivered by Rejoice Newton, and William Stedman 
was the president of the day. The orator for the Democratic celebration was 
Edwin A. White; Abraham Lincoln was the president of the day; and Levi Lincoln, 
Jr., and Reuben Monroe were the marshals. The Democrats appointed Levi Lincoln, 
Jr., General Jonathan Davis, Major Moses White and Captain John W. Lincoln 
a committee to bear as their toast to the Federalists: "Union Its object, Country, 
its cement, patriotism.'' 

The Federal committee, consisting of Francis Blake, Joseph Allen, Elijah Brigham, 



234 American Antiquarian Society'. 

5. Got in 2 loads of Hay. 

6. Lawrence went to Boston with the Carriage to bring 
up my daughter in Law, and her son William. 

8. Lawrence returned from Boston. My daughter in 
law. Miss Weld and my grandson William came up in the 
Carriage. Got in 2 loads of Hay. 

9. Got in 1 Load of Hay. 

10. Went to Church twice. M r . Reed preached for 
D r . Bancroft. 

11. Mr. A. Whipple came to Worcester via Boston. 

12. Got in 1 Load of Hay. 

13. Anson Whipple sat out for Walpole. 

14. Got in one Load of Hay. 

15. Do. Do. Do. Company — among them Mr. 
& Mrs. Cobb of Portland. 

16. Rode out. Catarrh badly. Webb — barber — went 
to Boston and I dressed twice at Narden's. Got in 1 Load 
of Hay. 

17. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Reed preached. 

IS. Had G men to reap Rye paid 1.75 each per day. 
Miss Calef & Mrs. Ripley came on a visit. 

19. Miss Calef and Mrs. Ripley sat off for Boston. 
Lawrence unwell and had the Doctor. — 3 men reaping— 
Got in four loads of Rye — attended at the Bank. 

20. (Jot in 2 loads of Hay. Deposited one thousand 
Dollars in the Rank. 

21. Gave D r . Fiske my Certificates of Shares in the 
Worcester and Stafford Turnpike to get the Interest for 



[saiafa Thomas and Colonel Salem To who carried as a reciprocal toast: " The A merican 

People. — May a speedy return of Peace bring with it a forgetfulness of past dis- 
sensions, and united exertion for the common interest of our country." 



Dior// of Isaiah. Thomas. 235 

me. My son and his daughter Frances came to sec me 
from Boston. 

22. Frazer rode out with Lawrence. 

23. Went to Boston, in Company with my Son, his 
Wife, 2 Grandchildren, Mary Andrews. The Coach and 
2 chaises. Dined at Framingham. Was there met by Mrs. 
Andrews & Wm. T. Andrews — Gov 1 '. Strong and (Jen. 
Cobb ' dined at the same place had an interview with them. 
Arrived in Boston at 5 "Clock. Very dry and road extremely 
dusty. 

24. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. Went to-Church 
twice. 

26. Rode to Salem with my son in the Coach with 
Lawrence. Spent 6 hours with Rev. M r . Bentley, 2 and 
returned to Boston. 



1 David Cobb was graduated from Harvard in 1700 and for many years was a 
practising physician. He was secretary of the Bristol County convention in 1774, and 
in the following year he was a member of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. 
He served as a lieutenant-colonel during the Revolution; was afterwards a major- 
general of militia; a justice of the Court of Common Plea-:; a representative in 
Congress from 1793 to 1795; a member of the Massachusetts Senate and House, 
and the presiding officer of both branches; a member of the Executive Council; 
lieutenant-governor in 1809; chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, while 
a resident of Maine, from 1790 to 1820; and major-general of the 10th military 
division, and a member of the Board of Military Defence during the war of 1812. 

[Born. Attleborough, Mass., 11 September, 1748. 

Died, Taunton, Mass., 17 April, 1839.] 

2 William Bentley, the son of Joshua and Elizabeth Paine Bentley, of Boston, 
was graduated from Harvard in 1777, where, after taking his master's degree, in 
1780, he was for three years a tutor in Creek and Latin. 24 September, 1783, he 
was ordained over the Second, or Bast Church, in Salem, as colleague to Rev. James 
Diman, and on the death of the latter in 1788, became sole minister. He had been 
educated in the Calvinistie belief, but his views gradually changed, until he became 
a decided anil avowed Unitarian. His doctrines were few and simple, and in his 
ministerial character he always avoided an intimate connection with every theological 
sect. His sermons were marked by a good deal of freedom and originality, and 
among his many haritiless eccentricities was a fondness for selecting odd texts, 
which he adapted to the current topics of the time in a way which was sometimes 
thought to be irreverent; and on the Sunday afternoon when the frigate "Consti- 



236 American Antiquarian Society. 

27. Rode to Brighton in the Coach with Lawrence to 
see Rev. M r . Abott, who promised to give me the old Latin 
Bible he brought from Portugal. Visited Cambridge. In 
the afternoon walked over to South Boston, to see a review 
of 600 militia of Boston, stationed there for 1 month. Got 
2 loads of Hay. 

28. Sat out for Braintree in the Coach with Mr. Soper 
but returned on account of the Tempest, Rain and Wind, 
which blew down a large building in Charlestown in which 
the 74 gun ship was built. 

29. Went to Braintree and .returned in a Chaise with 
Mr. Soper in the afternoon. 

30. Militia at South Boston dismissed. Dutch Minister 
arrived in Boston Harbor. 1 



tution" was chased into Marblehead harbor by two British frigates, he is said to 
have dismissed his congregation, marched to that place, and on his return preached 
a sermon from the text, "There go the ships!" He was also actively interested 
in politics, being a warm supporter of the Republican party from the time of its 
formation in 1801. From 1794 to 1797 he wrote a weekly summary of the news 
for the Salem Gazette, and was the editor of the Salem Register from its establishment, 
in 1800, to his death. 

He was a devoted student of American history, and was an accomplished linguist, 
knowing well mure than twenty languages, and having some familiarity with several 
others; and in acrpairing this knowledge, he collected a large library and cabinet, 
and many valuable manuscripts. With the exception of his theological and scientific 
books, which were given to Alleghany College, his library, paintings, engravings 
and the greater part of his manuscripts he left to the American Antiquarian Society. 
In 1S05 Dr. Bentley was offered and declined the presidency of the University of 
Virginia. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Dartmouth, in 17S7. 
and that of D.D. from Harvard, in 1819, a few months before his death; and was 
a member of the American Antiquarian, Massachusetts Historical and American 
Philosophical Societies. 

[Morn, Boston, 22 June, 1759. Hied, Salem, 29 December, 1819.] 

'Soon after the liberation of Holland from the rule of Napoleon, in November, 
1813, her former diplomatic relations with this country were renewed, and on 22 
May, 1814, M. Changuion, the newly appointed "Minister Plenipotentiary of his 
Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, Sovereign of the United Provinces of the 
Low Countries to the United States of America," sailed from Helvoetsluys, with 
his family and suite, for New York. Driven by contrary winds, the vessels were 
compelled to put into Marblehead, on Thursday, 28 July, and preparations were 



Did}')/ of Isaiah Thomas. 



T61 



31. Went to Providence with my son and grand daughter 
Augusta, in the Coach, with Lawrence. 



immediately begun for his reception in Boston. A cavalcade, to escort him from 
Marblehead, was at first planne 1, but he determined to go by water, and entered 
the outer harbor on Saturday morning. As soon as his arrival was known a com- 
mittee, consisting of Thomas Lindall Winthrop, Richard Sullivan and William 
Sturgis, went in the barge of the "Constitution' to "inform his Excellency of the 
mark of respectful attention which the citizens of Boston contemplated, and to 
ascertain the time when he would wish to make his landing." On account of the 
Sabbath, this was deferred until Monday morning, at eleven o'clock. On Sunday 
the vessels entered the port, saluting Fort Independence with thirteen guns, which 
it immediately returned, and their salute to the town, on coming to anchor, wa? 
answered by the "Constitution." At the appointed hour on Monday, M. Changuion 
was received at India street by the selectmen and the committee of arrangements, 
under a federal salute by the "Washington Artillery," and the enthusiastic cheers 
of an immense crowd, which filled the adjacent streets, wharves and buildings. 
He was driven, under military escort, through a number of the principal streets, 
to the residence of John Coffin Jones, the chairman of the committee of arrangements, 
in Hanover street, where, after receiving the marching salute of the troops, an 
address of congratulation and welcome was presented to him, and a reception held 
in his honor. 



July 



Cash received. 



From Lazell & Grafton, 5.32 
Of Foster, 2.57 

Part Rent New*. St. 

house, 15.00 

Lazell & Grafton, 21.50 

I. Thomas & Co., 77.00 



18. 

28. 



Reed, of J. W. Lincoln, 175.29 
Rent in Boston, 180.00 

Of the Co. in Boston, 1,000.00 
Lazell & Grafton, 10.76 

Of Larkin's Estate, 8.12* 



Cash paid away. 



2. 


Sundries, 




2.00 


20. 


5. 


do., 




1.00 


23. 


8. 


Mrs. Thomas, 




10.00 




9. 


Oyl, &c, 




2.00 


26. 


7. 


Expences of Law 
Paid Lawrence, 


rence 


, 4.67 

(i.:5:i 


27. 


11. 


Pd. Brown, 




10.00 


28. 


12. 


Pd. post office, 
Mrs. T., 




3.52 

10.00 




16. 


Mrs. T., 
Lawrence, 




20.00 
15.00 






N. Patch, 




15.00 


31. 


18. 


Family, 




1.00 


31. 


19. 


Paid S. Brazer, 
Deposited at 


the 


5.67 






Bank, 


1,000.00 





Paid 2 Orations, 

Expenses to Boston, 
on the road, 

do. to Salem, 

do. to Brighton — 
Toll 2 Societies, 

Paid Luther horse nets 

Edinburgh Encyclo- 
pedia 10th £ Vol.. 

Blacking for boots, & 
old books, 

Boots, 

Expenses in Provi- 
dence 1 day, 



.38 



3.00 
5.00 



£.0 

8.00 



4.75 
10. 00 



238 American Antiquarian Society. 

i 

August, IS 14. 

1. Went to see my old friend John Carter, Esq. Printer, 
aged 69; speechless and nearly in the arms of death. Dined 
in Providence with the Hon. Nich\ Brown 1 — present at 
dinner the President of the Colledge and two baptist clergy- 
men, Rev. M r . Gano 2 & a minster from S°. Carolina. Visited 
in Providence several friends, Gov. Jones, Mr. Halsey, 3 
Gen. Bridgham, Mr. Wilkinson with whom we drank tea. 

1 Nicholas Brown, the son of Nicholas and Rhoda Jenkes Brown, of Providence, 
I!. I., was graduated from Rhode Island College (Brown) in 1786, and immediately 
entered his father's counting-room. At the age of twenty-two, he inherited a 
considerable fortune from his father, and with his brother-in-law, Thomas P. Ives, 
established the firm of Brown and Ives, which became one of the most successful 
commercial houses in the country. 

Mr. Brown is most widely known as the patron of Brown University, and within a 
few years after his graduation, he began a long series of benefactions to thai institu- 
tion by the gift of a valuable law binary; and in 1804, founded a chair of oratory 
and belles-lettres. In recognition of these gifts, and of his continued interest, the 
corporation of the college, in 1804, changed its name to Brown University. In 1S22, 
he built a second college building, Hope College, named in honor of his sister; in 
1834, Manning Hall; and gave generously towards the erection of Rhode Island 
Hall and the president's house. He was a member of its board of trustees from 
1791 to 1825; its treasurer from 1796 to L825; and a fellow from 1825 to 1841. 

His gifts were not confined to the University, however, and be was one of the 
founders of the Providence Athenaeum and of the Butler Hospital for the Insane, 
and gave liberally to the budding of churches and to the endowment of colleges 
and academies. 

He was for fourteen years a member of the Uhode Island Legislature, serving 
in both its branches, and was a presidential elector in 1840. 

[Born, Providence, 4 April, 17G9. Died, Providence, 27 October, 1841.] 

2 Stephen Gano, the son of Rev. John and Sarah Stites (iimo, of New York, being 
unable to obtain a college education, studied medicine, and in 17S1 and 1782 was 
a surgeon in the Continental army. For the next four years he practised in Tappan. 
N. Y., but in 178:5 he became "hopefully pious," and was impressed with the idea 
thai it was hi> duty to preach the gospel. He was ordained a Baptist clergyman 
111 1786, and from 1792 to 1S2S, was the minister of the Firs! Baptist Church in 

Providence. He Was a tru-l f Brown from 1791 to 1828, from which he received 

the honorary degree of A.M. in 1800. 

[Born, New York, 25 December, 17(12. Died. Providence, 18 August, 1S2S.| 

3 Thomas Lloyd Halsey was graduated from Brown in 179", was fur many years 

a merchant in Providence, and at one time wa- United Slate- Consul at Buenos 

Ayres. He was a trustee of Brown from 1809 to 1839. 

I Horn, 177(i. Died, Providence, 2 February, 1855.1 



Dior II of Isaiah Thou/as. 239 

Got several books for the Antiquarian Society. Put up 
at Chapatan's hotel — Paid him 13 dollars for common fare 
for 1 day. 

2. Sat out for Worcester with Lawrence in the Coach, 
accompanied by my son, and his daughter Augusta by 
the way of Douglas, — arrived at home at 5 "Clock after- 
noon — A very heavy thunder shower met us within a mile 
of my house. 

5. Flagg — the man I hired sick several days. 

6. Walked over to the farm. 

7. Went to Chh. in the afternoon. 

8. My Grand daughter Augusta went to School. Her 
father went to Boston. Flagg has been unwell a week 
and done no work yet. Exceedingly heavy Rain all day — 
raised a Flood, which carried Roads, Bridges, Dams, &c. 
20 feet by 15 of the Causeway on the Turnpike to Boston, 
of the whole width of the Causeway, behind the first Chand- 
ler's hill, near the street Worcester, carried away. 

9. A strong and brilliant Rainbow this morning at 3 
quarters after 5 °Clock. Mrs. Mycall and her Son Capt. 
Chandler visited us from Cambridge port. 

10. Mrs. Mycall & her Son returned home. Got in 3 
Loads of Oats. Blood has worked 2 days. Charles Fenni- 
mer one day. Mrs. Gooch came up from Boston to live 
with us. 

11. Finished reaping Oats. 

12. Mr. Sam 1 . Armstrong and wife from Boston. Went 
to Lancaster. 

13. Flagg began to work again. Fair. Warm. Bathed. 

14. Went to Chh. twice. 

15. Mrs. Frazer unwell and continued so during the 
week. Had a Physician. 



240 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Mr. S. Armstrong & wife came from Lancaster. 

17. M r . & M rs . Armstrong went to Boston. 

18. My son and M r . Manning came from Boston in a 
Chaise in season to dine, and tarried with me. 

20. My son & Mr. Manning went to Boston. Mr. Soper 
came up in the Stage — dined with me and went on for 
N. york. Frazer rode out. Yesterday N. Batch was taken 
unwell and went home. 

21. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. Seaver & Miss Maccarty 
dined. 

23. My friend, John Carter, Esq. Printer, in Providence, 
R, I. died this week aged 69. Court of Com. Pleas. 

24. The honorary degree of M.A. was conferred on me 
by the University of Dartmouth. This honour was never 
sought for by me, and was at this time unexpected. The 
President of the University 1 made me a short visit on his 

1 John Wheelock, the son of Eleazer Wheelock, the founder and first president 
of Dartmouth College, entered Yale in 1767, but removed to Hanover with his 
father two years later, and was graduated from Dartmouth with its first class, in 
1771. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1774, and of the Assembly 
in 1775. In the spring of 1777 he was appointed a major in the New York forces, 
and in the following November was made a lieutenant-colonel. In 177S General 
Stark sent him on an expedition against the Indians, after which he was on General 
Gates's staff until, in 1779, at the age of twenty-five, he was recalled to Dartmouth 
to succeed his father. In 1782 he was appointed professor of civil and ecclesiastical 
history, and in 1784 was sent to Europe by the trustees, in the financial interests 
of the college, but on his return ho was wrecked off Cape Cod, and lost t lie box 
containing his money and papers. In 1815, in consequence of an ecclesiastical 
controversy among the trustees, he was removed from the presidency, and a legis- 
lative act was passed, enlarging the board, and changing the name of the institution 
to "Dartmouth University." This resulted in the celebrated "Dartmouth College 
case," in which Webster gained great reputation, and by which the act was declared 
unconstitutional. He was reinstated in office by a new board of trustees in 1817, 
a few weeks before his death. 

Dr. Wheelock received the degree of LL.D. from Dartmouth, in 1789 He married, 
_".l November, I78(i, Maria, daughter of Governor Christian Suhin, of St. 'Thomas, 
W. I. He left a large estate, half of which he bequeathed to Princeton Theological 
Seminary. 

| Horn, Lebanon, Conn., 28 January, 1754. Died, Hanover, N. II., 4 April, 1817.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas, 241 

way home from a journey to Boston, on the 3 d of Sept r 
and in a very polite manner gave me the information in 
presence of the Rev. Mr. William [Allen] l of Pittsfield and 
Sam 1 . M. Burnside, Esq r . of Worcester. 

25. Frazer went to Ward with Lawrence. Moses 
Thomas dined with us. Bathsheba Wheelock came to live 
with us as Chamber maid. Mowed the orchard behind the 
Garden a second time. Washington City taken by the 
British with little or no resistance. — Public Stores to a 
great amount destroyed— the Capitol, President's house, 
and other public buildings, with 4 ships of war — 

27. "Wm. Andrews went to Boston in the Stage. Col. 
Humphreys, 2 of Humphreysville, Connecticut, called on me. 
I happened not to be at home. 



1 William Allen, the son of Rev. Thomas Allen, of Pittsfield, Mass., was graduated 
from Harvard in 1802, and after being licensed, in 1804, preached for some months 
in various places in western New York. After his fathers death, in 1810, he was 
ordained over the church in Pittsfield; succeeded Dr. Wheelock as president of 
Dartmouth in 1817; and was president of Bowdoin from 1820 to 18:59. While 
assistant librarian of Harvard, from ISO! to 1807, he prepared an "American 
Biographical and Historical Dictionary,'' the first work of the kind published in 
the United States, which appeared in 1809 and had two later editions, in 1832 
and 18.57; and was also the author of several smaller biographical and historical 
works. He received the degree of D.D. from Dartmouth, in 1820. 

Dr. Allen married, in 1812, Maria Malleville, daughter of President John Wheelock. 

[Born, Pittsfield, 2 January, 1784. Died, Northampton, 16 July, 1868.] 

- David Humphreys, the son of Rev. Daniel and Sarah Bowers Humphreys, of 
Derby, Conn., was graduated from Yale in 1771; entered the Continental army 
as captain at the beginning of the Revolution ; served on the staff of General Putnam ; 
and was aide and secretary to Washington, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. 
At the surrender of Cornwallis he was allowed the honor of receiving the British 
colors, and was afterwards presented by Congress with a sword for his gallantry 
at the siege of Vorktown. From 1784 to 1786 he was secretary of legation to Frank- 
lin, Jefferson and Adams in Paris and London. He served in the Connecticut 
Legislature from 1786 to 1788, after which he lived at Mount Vernon until his 
appointment as the first United States minister to Portugal, in 1790. While in 
Portugal he was commissioner plenipotentiary to Algiers with general oversight 
over the Barbary States, from 1795 to 1797, when he was transferred to the Court 
of Madrid as minister plenipotentiary and retained this post until 1802. 

During the war of 1812 he served a- brigadier-general of Connecticut volunteers, 
and as a member of the Legislature was active in promoting measures of defence, 
1<> 



242 



American Antiquarian Society. 



29. Entered a complaint against five hoys for robbing 
my field of Corn on the Sabbath — my object to restrain 
them from such vile practices — The youth in this place 
are very immoral. 

30. Rode with Judge Paine to Milbury and Grafton. 
Got in two loads of Hay. 

31. Mrs. Seaver and Mrs. Putnam dined with us. Atten- 
ded the funeral of Mrs. Ward, wife of Asa Ward. 

September, 1814- 

1. Attended the funeral of a daughter of Benj a . Hey- 
wood, Esq. aged 16 — She died with the typhus fever. The 
men I hire have been engaged for some time in making 
wall in front of the field back of the hill. 

3. Rev. Dr. Wheelock, Pres. of Dartmouth University 



At the close of the war he retired to private life and was engaged in the manufacture 
of woollen goods. Colonel Humphreys received the honorary degree of A.M. from 
Vale in 1774, from the College of New Jersey, in 1783, and from Harvard, in 1787; 
and that of LL.D. from Brown in 1802, and from Dartmouth in 1804. He married, 
in 1797, Ann Frances, daughter of John Bulkeley, an English banker in Lisbon, 
[Born, Derby, Conn., 10 July, 1752. Died, New Haven, 21 February, 1818. 1 



Aug. 







( !ash received. 




• 


3. 


of Lazell & Grafton, 


L5.82 


22. 


Do. of Lazell * (iraf- 






( )f Note, Sturbridge, 


2.58 




ton. 


5.86 


5. 


Lazell & Grafton, 


13.15 


24. 


Kei" 1 . of I. Goulding, 




it. 


( >n Exon against St Lies 


36.87 




interest , 


23.25 


13. 


From proceeds of the 




22. 


Rec d . of Lazell it ("iraf- 






Tanyard, 


100.00 




ton for sales, 


2 1.10 


15. 


Cash & due bill of 
Lazell & ( irafton, 


22.13 
Paid : 


i way. 






^> 


Expences on road from 




17. 


Family, 


2.00 




Pio\ idence, 


2.50 


23. 


pd. Assesment, Fitz. 






Mrs. Gooch's passage. 


3.00 




Win. Turnpike, 


8.00 


4. 


Meat 0.50 Sundries .50, 1.00 




Sundries, 


4.00 


5. 


Sundries family, 


2.00 


27. 


Oil. ,vc, 


1.00 


6. 


Mrs, Thomas, 


5.00 




A. Stowell for Iron (hai 


1,4.00 


s. 


Butcher, 


3.80 




Lent Clarke Whitte- 




'.1. 


Family, 


2.00 




IT, 


20.00 


13. 


do., 


0.63 


28. 


Family, 


1.00 


15. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


25,00 









Diary of Isaiah Tinnitus. 243 

and Rev. Mr. Allen of Pittsfield called on me and spent 
an hour. President Wheelock informed me that that 
Corporation, at their public Commencement, on the 24 th 
lilt, had conferred on me the honorary degree of Master 
of Arts. This honor, however gratifying, was never sought 
for by me. 

This morning saw a 4 wheeled Waggon without axle 
trees for the Wheels, made by a person in Woodstock, Con. 
I rode in it'some way — it was easy and light, and I think 
the plan an improvement, &c. 

4. Went to Chh. twice. 

5. Mr. Soper returned from New York. 

6. Mrs. Parker came on a Visit. Mr. W. N. Boylston l 
dined with me. Attended at the Bank. Court of Sessions. 

7. Bills of various Banks stopped circulation. 2 



1 Ward Nicholas Boylston [Ward Hallowell], the son of Benjamin and Mary 
Boylston Uallowell, of Boston, received his education in the public schools of Huston. 
In March, 1770, at the request of his uncle, Nicholas Boylston, by a royal license 
he dropped the name of Hallowell, and added to his Christian name that of his 
uncle. In 1773, on account of ill health, he commenced a journey through Europe 
and Asia, and from 1775 to 1S00, was in business in London. After his return, 
in the latter year, he spent the greater part of his time in Princeton, spending the 
winter months at his seat in Jamaica Plain. Soon after his arrival in Boston, he 
continued to Harvard the bequest of Nicholas Boylston, amounting to over twenty- 
three thousand dollars, as a foundation for the professorship of rhetoric ami oratory, 
on the condition that John Quincy Adams should he appointed to that chair. Two 
years later he secured to the same institution an annuity of one hundred dollars, 
to he distributed as prizes for the discussion of medical questions; and later a further 
annuity of sixty dollars, for prizes in elocution, for undergraduates. He also gave 
five hundred dollars as a fund for additions to the library. 

[Born, Boston, 22 November, 1749. Died, Roxbury, 7 January, 1828.] 

2 After the refusal of Congress to recharter the United States Hank, in 1811, 
the individual states quickly seized the opportunity thus presented, of establishing 
state hanks, and between 1811 and 1810, their number had increased from eighty- 
eight to two hundred and forty-six. A large number of "Wildcat Banks' came 
into existence, especially in the South and West, which inflated their issues to such 
an extent, that by the summer of 1814, the currency was in an almost hopelessly 
deranged condition. The burning of Washington and the attack on Baltimore 
were followed by a financial panic, in which specie payments were suspended by 



244 American Antiquarian Society. 

8. Training. Mrs. Parker, my niece returned home. 
Gov 1 ". Strong has ordered out 15,000 of militia. 1 Sent by 



every bank in the country outside of New England, which hud been more conser- 
vative in its methods, and was thus enabled to withstand the strain. 

1 In the spring of 1814, the British began to extend their policy of coast descents 
to New England, accompanied by burning and pillage, and ihe frequent reports 
of large ships of war off the coast of -Massachusetts, kept Boston in a continual 
state of ferment. The town was in an utterly defenceless condition, for owing 
to bitter quarrels with the federal authorities in regard to the war, no help had 
been given, the federal troops had been withdrawn from the coast, and her forts 
were almost useless; so that when the news reached Boston, 19 April, that a British 
squadron of eight vessels had been sighted off Gloucester, defensive measures were 
immediately begun, and a code of signal- was adopted in case of an attack: by 
day, two guns fired in quick succession, and a red flag hoisted at the Navy Yard; 
by night three guns, and two lanterns hoisted perpendicularly in the Navy Yard; 
and at both times the bells ,,f the churches were to be tolled for half an hour. 

By 27 June, there was a general feeling of alarm; but it was not until two months 
later that any energetic measures were taken. 24 August, a petition from a number 
of citizens to the selectmen, suggesting that a town meeting be called to consider 
the advisability of providing means of defence, was refused on the grounds that 
that body had full confidence in the executive, and that it would be unwise to 
excite alarm, by calling such a meeting; whereupon, on 30 August, a committee, 
consisting of Harrison Gray Otis, Thomas Handasyd Perkins, James Lloyd and 
others, was appointed to present a petition to the governor; ami at a public meeting 
in Faneuil Hall. :! September, it was voted that the citizens would cheerfully and 
cordially CO-operate with his Excellency in any measures of defence which might 
be devised, in which their services might be useful; and that when necessary they 
would make prompt arrangements for the employment of all classes of their fellow- 
citizens, in the construction of fortificat ions, or other means of defence, and in obtain- 
ing contributions. Governor Strong acted promptly, and on ti September ordered 
the entire militia of the state to hold itself in readiness for service, and called certain 
companies immediately to Boston. On the following day he issued a proclamation, 
convening the General Court on 5 October; and a few days later, appointed a 
"Board of Commissioners for Sea Coast Defence, ' consisting of David Cobb, chair- 
man, John Brooks, Timothy Pickering, Israel Thorndike and Thomas Handasyd 
Perkins. A new fori "fort Strong" oil Noddle's Island (now Bast Boston); 
two at Dorchester Heights; a water battery at Dorchester Point; a battery at 

Commercial Point; and held works at Savin Hill were at once projected. Loammi 

Baldwin was chief of construction, and Itl September he issued a call for tools, and 

for volunteers to aid in the work. The answer iii this appeal was overwhelming. 
The SniTolk Bar; the Boston Medical Association; the Charitable Mechanics Asso- 
ciation; the schoolmasters; the students of Harvard College; the several coin panic ,,f 
the militia; the Long Wharf and India Wharf merchants; the mechanics and manu- 
t.ir in ■ ■ ; the dealers in dry goods and hardware; the printers, booksellers and lii lid- 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 24f) 

Way of Mr. Wilson 100 dollars Eastern Bills to be exchanged. 
— 107 more to my son for like purpose ct 278 by Mr. Trum- 
bull. 

9. Most of the day at the Bank. Training. Nine 
large Waggons heavy loaded with Specie, brought to our 
Bank from the Salem Bank to deposit, — more than 600,000 
dols. Have about 300,000 also from the State Bank in 
our Vaults. 1 

10. Mr. Bancroft went to Vermont. 

11. Mr. Thompson 2 of Barre preached. Went to Chh. 
twice. This day the Artillery and Light Infantry companies 
of Worcester, completely equipped, marched for the defence 



ers; the housewrights ; the brick and stone layers; the sailors from the Navy Yard, — 
every profession, trade and elass of citizens organized in bands, chose captains, 
and offered their services. The Columbian Cent in el of 17 September contains the 
notice that "The Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (not 
on duty,) will meet at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday Morning next, at o'clock — each 
Man will bring with him a good Shovel, Spade or Mattock to perform one day's 
work on Fort Strong." On one day the venerable Dr. Lathrop was seen, with the 
deacons and flders of his church, shovelling and carrying sods in wheelbarrows; 
on another Bishop Cheverus and two hundred and fifty of his congregation labored 
on Dorchester Heights. Nor did the citizens of Boston alone come forward, but 
companies from all the surrounding towns marched to Boston and performed their 
allotted work; while in every part of the state those exempt from military duty 
enrolled and armed themselves. So quickly and steadily did the work go on, that 
on 26 October, Fort Strong was formally named by Lieutenant-Governor Phillips. 
By the time that the remaining works were completed, however, in the early part 
of November, the British commander had sailed to the southward, the alarm died 
away, and the troops were soon after dismissed. 

'In the alarm caused by the apprehensions of coast descents by the British at 
this time, many of the seaport towns in New England hurried their goods and 
property into places of safety in the interior. The banks at Portland buried their 
specie; the people of Wiscasset hid their property in the woods; and Salem cut 
away five hundred wagon loads of household goods in one day, the citizens being 
determined that the enemy should find nothing but empty houses. 

2 Rev. James Thompson, minister of the Congregational (Unitarian) Church 
in Barre, from 1804 to 1854. 



24G American Antiquarian Society. 

of Boston 1 — A small company, Oakham Grenadiers for 
Boston, passed through town this afternoon for Boston. 
In the Fveir. 3 other companies from Northampton & 
Hadley arrived, for Boston. 

A Saddle and Bridle stolen out of my stable last Night — 
a horse stolen from Capt. Wis well. 

12. Northampton Artillery Company and Belchertown 
Light Infantry Com y . passed thro' town for Boston. 

13. Springfield artillery and another Company from 
another town passed thro' Worcester for Boston. Lawrence 
went to Boston on horseback. Attended at the Bank. 
We have deposited in the Bank above 1000000 dollars. 

16. Training — A military company from Hampshire 

went on to Boston. 

Democrats rejoiced for the Success of the Fleet on Lake 
( Ihamplain. 2 

18. Went to Boston. Arrived at Boston at 5 in the 
afternoon. Found my Son in debt about 80,000 dollars, 



1 The Republicans of Worcester furnished carriages for the transportation of 
the men as far as Watertown, anil on their arrival at South Boston, the officers 
issued the following acknowledgment: — 

CARD. 

The undersigned Officers of the Worcester Light Infantry and Artillery Companies, 
in Ik hulf aj I hew selves niul their corps, lender to the Citizens of Worcester their grate- 
ful acknowledgments for the efficient assistance afforded them on /heir nutrch from 
Worcester to Boston -They trust that then shall be able to satisfy their Fellow Citizens, 
if then have opportunity, that the confidence which then hare reposed in them has not 
been misplaced. 

JOHN W. LINCOLN, Capt. . SAMUEL GRAVES, Capt. 

SEWALL HAMILTON, Lieut. SIMEON HASTINGS, Lt, 

JOHN COOLIDGE, Ensign. NATHAN HEARD, Lt. 

Worcester L. Inf. Worcester Artillery. 

Cawp. South Boston, Sept. I i, 1814. 
2 This was Commodore Macdonough's victory over the British squadron under 
Captain George Downie, in Plattsburg Hay. 11 September, 1814, which was 
one of the greatesl naval battles of the war. On the receipt of the news in 
Worcester the bells were rung and a salute was fired. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



247 



pressed for a great part of it, and no means to pay it. Had 
to advance him 12,000 dols. — am bound for him also 
13,000. Continued Military parade in Boston. 

19. Attended to my sons affairs. Saw Mar} 7 B. 

20. Rode to South Boston to see the Troops. 

21. Returned to Worcester with my grand daughter 
Mary Rebecca. 

25. Went to Chh. once. M r . Rockwood : of Westboro' 
preached. Mrs. Sedgwick dined with us. 

27. Mrs. Sedgwick and Mrs. Seaver dined with us. 

Wrote the Subscription paper for an Edifice for the 
Antiqu So y . Several members of the Antiquarian Club met 
at my house this evening. Flagg dismissed at his request. 

28. Antiquarian Society met in this town. My Son & 
daughter came from Boston. 

29. Went to Paxton with my son and his wife, to see 
a house for his family to live in. 



1 Rev. Elisha Rockwood, the last town minister of Westborough, was ordained 
over the church in that place, in 1807, and remained until 1825. He was then 
the minister of t he first society, from its formation in that year, to 1835. 







Cash received. 






5. 


Of Lazell & Grafton 


13.54 




of do. do., 


3.23 


21. 


of do. do., 


10.38 
Cash pa 


d away. 


Corn, 


2.00 


1. 


Joel Lawrence, 


1(1.00 


19. 


Mary B., 


15.00 


3. 


Paid away family, 


1.50 




Blacksmith, Boston, 


L0.40 


5. 


do., 


0.44 




Varnishing Carriage, 


10.00 


9. 


Sent to Boston to be 




20. 


Mr. Buckingham, 


20.00 




exchanged. 


385.00 




Expenses to A- from 






Mrs. Thomas, 


5.(111 




Boston, 


9.22 




Sent to Boston via of 




23. 


I. Thomas, jun. sent 






M*. Wilson 100 dol- 






to M r . Andrews, 1 


,000.00 




lars in Eastern Bills, 


100.00 


27. 


Missionary Society to 




12. 


Joel Lawrence, 


5.00 




D r . Bancroft, 


li.00 


15. 


( lave in Exchange for 






Sundries, 


2.00 




foreign bills, 


4.96 


28. 


Newspapers, 


5.00 


16. 


Sundries family, 


2.00 


30. 


For five barrels of 






Mrs. Thomas, 


15.00 




Cyder, 


28.00 




Lawrence, 


10.00 




Nath. Patch. 


3.00 



248 American Antiquarian Society. 

October, I8I4. 

1. My son and his wife returned to Boston. Mrs. 
Soper, her daughter Rachel and Grandson Isaiah Thomas 
Soper came from Braintree on a visit. I rode out with 
Judge Paine. Regimental muster at West Boylston. My 

men were gone all day. 

2. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. Sedgwick, Mrs. Seaver, 
Mrs. Soper and daughter dined with us. 

3. Stock holders of the Bank met — was again chosen 
a Director. N. B. I have been chosen annually ever 
since its establishment. Mr. Soper went to Albany. 

4. Went to the Lodge — attended at the Bank. 

5. Had Company. 

8. Mrs. Soper, her daughter and grand child having 
been with us a week on a visit went to Leominster to visit 
Mrs. Legate. Lawrence went with them as far as \Y. 
Boylston. 

9. Mr. Soper returned from Albany, and went on to 
Boston. Went to Chh. twice. 

11. Attended at the bank. 

13. Sketched an Address to the Antiquarian Society. 
My Grand daughter Mary went to a party and ball at Mr. 
Blake's. 

14. Anne L. Sheldon returned from Thompson, where 
she has been for several months. Her aunt Benson brought 
her in a Chaise. 

Received a Letter from I) r . Wheelock President of Dart- 
mouth College, inclosing an attested Copy of the Vote of 
the Trustees of that University, conferring on me the 
Degree of Master of Arts. — The Dr.'s Letter is friendly 
polite and flattering, lie had sonic time since informed 
me, personally, that the University had conferred the 
Degree above mentioned. 






Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 24!) 

15. Anne L. Sheldon and Mrs. Benson returned to 
Thomson. Mrs. Seaver dined with us. 

16. Went to Chh. twice. M r . Stone 1 of Brookfield 

preached. 

17. Several Members of the Ame. Antiq. Society met 
at my house this evening. 

18. My brother came from Lancaster. Attended at the 
Bank. 

10. My brother returned to Lancaster. Convention of 
Ministers and Delegates in Worcester respecting observance 

of the Sabbath. 2 



'Rev. Micah Stone was the minister of the church in Brookfield, from 1S01 
to 1827, when the church became Unitarian, and he was succeeded by Rev. George 
R. Noyes, afterwards of the Harvard Divinity School. A new society, the "Evan- 
gelical Society" was then formed, and Mr. Stone was its minister until his death, 
in 1852. 

2 This convention met in the Court House, in response to a notice issued by Revs. 
Joseph Avery, John Crane, Samuel Austin, James Murdock and Andrew Peters; 
and after the election of Rev. Reuben Puffer as moderator, and Rev. James Murdock 
as scribe, it was unanimously resolved, "that we will now form ourselves into a 
society for the purpose of aiding the peace-officers in the execution of the laws of 
this commonwealth, enacted to prevent immoralities generally, and particularly 
profanity, intemperance, and Sabbath-breaking; and of restoring, by united 
exertions, as far as we can, purity of morals." A constitution was then adopted, 
the officers chosen, and the name of the society fixed as "The Society in the County 
of Worcester for the Reformation of Morals." A committee of the council, con- 
sisting of Samuel Austin, Samuel M. Burnside and Bradford Sumner, presented 
a set of resolutions, in part as follows: — 

" WHEREAS, in the prosecution of the important object of this society, it is 
indispensable that the members themselve- be exemplary, anil be not liable In 
have imputed to them, in any measure, the irregularities they aim to correct; and 
that their exertions be uniform, in concert, prudent, and efficacious; therefore, 

" Resolved, That we will constantly watch against every manner of speech, par- 
taking of the nature of profanity, and will reprove, and prevent, to the utmost 
of our power, all profanity in those subject to our care and authority; and that 
we will not knowingly use distilled spirits, either in a pure or mixed state, except 
when it shall be deemed necessary, as a temporary restorative, and to the mitigation 
or removal of disease; and, if we cannot persuade those employed in our service 
to be satisfied with milder liquors, and drinks which do not expose to inebriation, 
we will constantly and faithfully exert our influence to prevent their using ardent 



!'.*»(» American Antiqnariatt Society. 

20. Went to Boston in the Coach with Lawrence, my 
Granddaughter Augusta accompanied me. 

21. Went to the Funeral of the Rev. John L. Abbot, 
of Boston. He was a worthy member of the Am. Antiq. 

Society. 

22. Walked several Miles in Boston. Met the Council 
of the Am. Antiq. Soc. this Evening. 

23. Went to the Chapel in the forenoon — dined with 
M r . Andrews. Had to prepare the business of the Antiq. 
So y . for Tomorrow. 

24. Met the Council of the Ame. Antiq. Society, at the 
Ex-Coffee house at 9 "Clock this Morning — the Society 
met at 10 °Clock about 30 members present. Very respec- 
table. Went in procession at 12 °Clock to the Chapel. 
D r . Holmes of Cambridge delivered a learned and excellent 
address. Returned to the Ex. Cof. house. Chose Officers — 
was unanimously reelected President. — I delivered an 
Address to the Society in the morning — it was voted to 
be printed as was Dr. Holmes public Address. Much 
business at this Meeting. 1 



spirits to excess; and that we will sanctify the Sabbath, by abstaining from all 
work, travel, pastime and indulgence, opposed to, and interruptive of, the holy 
resl of that day; and, as far as we can, cause all under our care to respect the 
instructions of the scriptures, and the laws of the commonwealth relative to a due 
observance of the Sabbath. That we will, to the utmost of our influence, promote, 
in the respective towns in which we live, the choice of persons of zeal for reform, 
of firmness and faithfulness, to the office of tythingmen, ami in sufficient numbers 
to proceed with confidence and effect in the execution of the laws against the 
disorders which it is our object to correct. 

'The officers chosen at this meeting were: President, Isaiah Thomas; Yice- 
PresidentS, William I). Peck and Dr. William Paine; Council, Timothy Bjgelow, 
Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Edward Hangs, Samuel .1. Prescott, Rev. William Bent ley. 
Dr. Bedford Webster and Benjamin Russell; Corresponding Secretaries, Rev. 
Thaddeus M. Harris, Rev. William Jenks and Samuel M. Burnside; Recording 
Secretary, Dr. Oliver Fiske; Assistant Recording Secretary, John Lathrop, Jr.; 
Treasurer, Isaiah Thomas, Jr.; Librarian and Cabinet Keeper, Samuel Jennison, Jr. 

The President. Judge Bangs, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., were appointed a committee 
to draft and present a petition to Congress, asking that all letters to and from the 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 251 

26. Returned to Worcester, accompained by my son, 
and granddaughter Caroline. 

27. Mr. Soper came from Boston in the Stage, and 
proceeded on, hound for Charleston, S. C. Paid the national 
Tax on land. 22 dols. l(i Cents. 

28. The Proprietors of the Tannery met and adjourned 
to Monday. 

30. Worcester Artillery Company returned from Boston. 
Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Mills of Milbury. 

31. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde spent the Eveir. 
with us. 

November, 181 4. 

1. My Son returned to Boston in the Stage. Worcester 
Light Infantry Company returned from Boston. Attended 
at the Bank. 



society might be franked, and requesting a complete set of the laws and public 
documents of the United States. 

The members elected were: Langdon Cheves, of South Carolina; William Gaston 
and Joseph Pearson, of North Carolina; Samuel W. Dana, of Middletown, Conn.; 
Daniel Sheffey, of Virginia; Jeremiah Morrow, of Ohio; Charles Goldsborough 
and Robert H. Goldsborough, of Maryland; Daniel Webster, of New Hampshire; 
Klegius Fromentin, Mons. Sorel and James Brown, of Louisiana; Christopher 
Daniel labeling, of Hamburg, Germany; Captain Benjamin Trevett, U. S. N.; 
Jonathan Thompson, of Mississippi; Charles W. Greene, Joseph Tilden and Rev, 
Charles Lowell, of Boston; George Thacher, Rev. Reuben Nason, David Sewall 
and Samuel Freeman, of Maine; Elisha Boudinot, General John Noble Cuming 
and Dr. David Ilosack, of New Jersey; Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, of New Haven; 
Rev. John Prince, of Salem; Le Baron L'Escalier, Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, 
Dr. John W. Francis and Dr. Lyman Spaulding, of New York; Governor William 
Clark, of Missouri; and Dr. Samuel Russell Trevett, U. S. N. 



Cash received. 

Oct. :?. Of Lazell & Grafton, 12.19 

(i. Rye, 10.00 

10. Lazell & Grafton, 6. IS 

Dividend at Bank, 390.00 

do. for Miss Weld, 15.00 

D". for Mrs. T. 24, & 

Miss Armstrong 21, 45.00 
12. Cash of Darby for Rent, 40.00 



15. Of the County, 27.00 
23. Rent in Boston, 195.00 
Interest, Loan office, 

Otis 6.00, 26.00 
Gilbert it Deane divi- 
dend, 30.00 
28. Lazell & Grafton, 11.76 



252 



American Antiquarian Society. 



3. Carpenter began fixing up the old Printing house, 
to be again occupied for printing. Mr. Manning 1 having 
hired it for that purpose. 



1 William Manning, the son of Joseph and Mary Allen Manning, served his appren- 
ticeship with Rennet Wheeler, a printer in Providence, and after coming of age, 
was employed for some years in Mr. Thomas's office in Worcester. In 1794, with 
James Loring, he opened a printing office in Spring lane, in Boston, and began 
the publication of works for the booksellers, and the firm of "Manning and Loring" 
soon became extensively known. In 1800, they commenced bookselling ami pub- 
lishing on their own account, at the sign of "Washington's Head," at the corner 
of Spring lane and Washington street (Cornhill). This partnership lasted until 
1813, and in October, 1814, Mr. Manning succeeded Isaac Sturtevant, as the publisher 
of the Massachusetts Spy. In October, 1819, he entered into partnership with 
George A. Trumbull, under the firm name of "Manning and Trumbull"; and on 
the hitter's retirement, in January, 1822, his son, Samuel B. Manning, was associated 
with him for a few months, and he was then again the sole publisher until August, 
1823. A month later he printed the first number of the Massachusetts Yeoman, 
for its editor, Austin Denny, and published it until March, 1828. He then continued 
as a book and general printer, but soon removed his business to Boston, where 



Cash paid away. 



10. 



11. 
12. 



13. 



18. 



Patch, 

Mr>. < tooch, 

Butcher, 

Mrs. Gooch, 

Gin, 

Tea, 

Frazer, 

Paid Mrs. Thomas & 

Miss Weld's dividends. 

Flour 10.00 Candles 
17.20 Partridges .50, 

Paid Montague Wil- 
liams, 

Posl office, 

Mis. Armstrong's divi- 
dend in a Letter, 

Sundries tor family. 

Paid Benj". Flagg 3''., 
Apples 3* bushs., 
Mrs. Thomas, 
Apples ,v Cranberries, 

«fec, 
for Butter- 00 lb., 
Cyder, from Flagg l 

barrel, 
My Grand daughter 



3.00 




Augusta Schooling, 


5.70 


2.00 




( )yl. 


1.0(1 


4.. 50 


19. 


Cyder 1 barrel 5.00 M. 




5.00 




So>. 1, 


6.00 


1.25 


24. 


Williams A- Moore 




2.17 




(groceries), 


110.50 


5.00 




Encyclopedia 4.00, 








Towels 2.25, 


0.25 


39.00 




Rebecca Armstrongs 








dividend, 


21.00 


33.70 




Tobacco, 0.50 boy's 








shoes 1.25, 


1.75 


13.86 




Paid Lawrence 3.00 




5.89 




barber .80, 


3.80 






Flannel, 


12.80 


23. OP 




Lavender 1, Soper, 




3.00 




horses 10.75, 


11.75 


30.00 




Travelling Expenses, 


5.10 


1.00 




National Tax, 


22.10 


20.00 




For Newspapers, 


20.00 






Frazer, 


1 .83 


2. (Ill 


29. 


Kendall, for White- 




14.60 




washing, 


.-,.:,() 






l'ork, 


1.32 


4.50 


31. 


4^ bushs. Apples, 


0.50 






1 '.ggs 3 dozen, 


0.50 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 253 

5. Judge Bangs spent most of the day with me. We 
prepare a short petition to Congress on behalf of the Ame. 
Antiq. Society. 

6. Went to Chli. twice — the artillery and light infantry 
companies attended Chh. in their uniforms, marched in 
order with drums & fifes. 1 — Mrs. Thaxter dined with us. 

7. Town meeting for election of a member of Congress. 
My Son went to Newbury port. 

9. Sent Lawrence to Boston with the Horses, to bring 
home the old Coach. Wrote Petition to Congress & Letters 
to several persons. 

10. Went to Boston in the Stage. My brother came 
from Boston. 

1 1 . Purchased the Remains of old Library of the Mathers 
which had belonged to Drs. Increase, Cotton and Samuel. 
This is unquestionably the oldest in New England. The 
Remains are between 600 and 700 Vols. Worked hard 
all day with Lawrence and other assistance in packing 
and removing it. 2 My Bro r . came from Lancaster. 



he had an office for several years. About the year 1834, he was appointed by 
Governor Lincoln, as messenger to the Governor and Council, and retained this 
position, under successive administrations, until his retirement, in 1842. 

Mr. Manning was twice married: 18 May, 1794, to Lydia, daughter of Samuel 
and Abigail Brown, of Bolton, Mass., by whom he had eleven children, seven sons 
and four daughters; and secondly, to Lydia Wyer, widow of Timothy Keith, by 
whom he had five children, four daughters and one son. 

[Horn, Providence, 15 April, 1767. Died, Cambridge, 25 July, 1849.] 

1 "On t he last Sabbath, the Members of t lie Worcester Artillery and Light In- 
fantry Companies attended divine service, in full dress, agreeably to the request 
of Gen. Maltby, and offered their publick acknowledgments to Almighty God for 
the preservation of their life and health, during their absence on military duty. 
In the afternoon, they were highly gratified with a most appropriate and impressive 
discourse from the Rev. Dr. Bancroft which irresistibly fixed the attention and 
moved the heart of every hearer." — National .-Egis, 9 November, 1814. 

-Mr. Thomas bought this collection from Mrs. Hannah Mather Crocker, the 
granddaughter of Cotton Mather. In it were about three hundred letters from 
Cotton Mather to persons at home and abroad, copied by himself; letters from 
Cotton and Increase Mather to Rev. John Cotton, of Plymouth; and miscellaneous 



254 American Antiquarian Society. 

12. Returned to Worcester with Lawrence in the old 
Coach. Dined with M r . Sollicitor Davis at Eaton's, Fram- 

ingham. Had the ague in my face badly. Hannah Gleason 
came to live with us. 

13. Went to Chh. once. Mr. Allen of Bolton preached. 
Mrs. Seaver came on a visit for a few days. 

15. The Mather Library came up from Boston, and 
was unpacked. Rev. Dr. Holmes from Cambridge called 
on me in the Evening. Placed another row of flat Stones 
before my house; and a row of thick flat' Stones across 
the Lower Road, from the stone steps to Judge Bangs's 
house. My grand daughter Caroline went to School. 
Attended at the Bank. 

17. Rev. Dr. Sumner of Shrewsbury called on me. 

18. Rev. M r . Nash & wife Rev. IX Bancroft and wife 
and some Ladies passed the afternoon with us. 

19. Dr. Bancroft sat out for Vermont. Ball, to which 
my Grand daughter Mary went. 

20. Did not go to Chh. Mr. Thayer preached. 



letters to and from Increase, Cotton anil Samuel Mather. 

It also contained a great number and variety of manuscript productions of the 
Mathers: the original draft of the Cambridge platform, by Richard Mather, from 
which thai adopted by the Synod was mainly taken, and also I he platform as adopted, 
in Richard Mather's handwriting, which are regarded as of ureal theological interest, 
as showing what the Synod accepted and rejected; an autobiography written l>y 
Increase Mather for his children, and his diaries in interleaved almanacs; the 
diaries of Cotton Mather for 1092, 1696, 1699, 1703, 1709, 171 1, 1713 and 1717. 
essays, large and small, among them a work of considerable size, called "Tripara- 
disus," which contains Cotton Mather's views upon several theological questions 
much discussed at that period, and which is spoken of in Samuel Mather's life of 
his father, as having lieen sent to England to he published, but the bookseller 
being dead, it was not known what had become of the manuscript ; and an elaborate 
medical work by Cotton Mather, entitled "The Angel of Bethesda, an Kssay upon 
the Common Maladies of Mankind," written at a time when physicians were scarce 
and ministers were almost universally practitioners. 

In addition ic, these there were miscellaneous parcels, memorandum books and 
a larce mass of material written by the Mathers for public or private use. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 2">."> 

21. Attended a Com ee . of the Grand. Lodge on the 

removal of the Morning Star Lodge to Leicester. 

22. Went to Bank. 

24. Did not go abroad. 

26. Tanyard Company met at. my house. 

27. No meeting at the N. Parish. 

28. Some Sleighing the first in Worcester this Season. 
A very' considerable Shock of an Earthquake was felt this 
Evening. It extended from the Connecticut to the Merri- 
mack. Have not heard from a greater distance. Have 
been engaged in taking a Catalogue and putting the books 
in order of the Mather Library 1 for the last 8 days, have 
not been abroad for the last six days. Proprietors of the 
Tanyard met this Evening at my house. Our Agent 
proves unfaithful. Voted to dissolve the present firm. 
Paid for my son this year, and am bound to pay for him 
12,000. 

29. This Evening heard of the Death of the Hon. 
Elbridge Gerry, at Washington, Vice President of the 
United States. 

30. Have continued putting the Mather library in 
order. Have done little else for a fortnight. Did not 
attend the Bank yesterday. The Proprietors of the Tan- 
yard met again at my house this Evening — agreed to 
continue the business, under a new firm, and a new Agent — 
Purchased the real Estate of one of the Proprietors of I lie 
Tannery. There 1 will be now five proprietors instead of 
six as formerly. 



■This catalogue, which is in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society, 
fills about seventy-five folio pages, and is interesting from the fact that Mi'. Thomas, 
gave, separately, opposite each title, the price he paid for the books. 



1. 

2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
11. 



2a() American Antiquarian Society. 

December, 1814- 

Thanksgiving. Went to Church. 

Went to the Bank and to the Tanyard. 

Had the Clock in the back room repaired. 

None of the family went to Church. 

Killed two Hogs. 

Did not go to Church. Nathan Patch 5 months 

ended this Even'-', at 17 dols. per month. Agreed from 

the 12 th of Dec r . to the 1 st . of next April at 13 dols. per 
month. 

13. Went to the Bank. 

14. Mrs. Thomas, and our House-keeper Frazier went 
to Lancaster with Lawrence in a Sleigh. 

15. They returned with my Brother's Wife. Lent a 
horse to Wm. Andrews to go in a Chaise to Boston. 

16. My Brother's Wife unwell. Continued till this time 
at work on the Mather's Library. 

17. Wm. Andrews returned from Boston. 

18. Went to Church twice. 



Cash received. 
Nov. 9. Of Lazell & Grafton, 15.11 | 23. Of d< 



do., 





C 


ash pai 


1 away. 




1. 


Recording Deed, 


0.81 


12. 


Paid for horses, repair- 


3. 


Postage & Deeds, 


5.80 




ing Coach, &c, 10.00 


5. 


Nails 75 Cents Deed 1 






Mrs. Crocker, 200.00 




dol r ., 


1.75 




Truckman, removing 


8. 


Pew tax, 


36.00 




Library, L.50 


9. 


Paul 1 ,a\\ rence, 


4.00 


23. 


Flag teaming Mather 




Lawrence expense-, 


LOO 




library, 10.50 


0. 


M ra. Thomas, 


1 1.00 




L. Flagg, labor, LOO 




Stage fair, &c, 


3.50 


24. 


Mrs. Gooch, 6.00 




1 .i-iit :i j oung Man, by 






Nathan Patch, 20.00 




the nai f Baldwin 






David Brown, L0.00 




passenger in t be Stage 


IMIII 




My son. 800.00 




Recording Deed in 






Flagg, for laying stones, 4.00 




Boston, 


1.00 




Sundries for the family, 4.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



257 



19. Hannah Gleason unwell. 

20. My week at the Bank as Director. 

22. My Brother's wife and Hannah Gleason confined to 
their chamber. Frazer unwell. 

25. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. T. did not go. 

26. Still at work on the Mather Library — very assidu- 
ously — have been only to bank and to Chh for a month 
past. Have got through with the bound books — now 
engaged on the MSS. 

27. Attended at the Bank. 

28. My brother's wife, and Hannah Gleason, have for 
several clays had a Physician and been Confined to their 
Chambers. Frazer also unwell. This day my brother's 
wife so far recovered, that at her request I send her home 
in a Sleigh — Lawrence went and returned in 6 hours, 
having been going and returning 38 miles. Spent the 
Evening with Judge Bangs at his house. 

29. Frazer more unwell and sent for the Physician. 

31. Attended at the Bank with the other Directors — 
to examine its State in order to make the semi-annual 
Report of it to the Legislature. 



Cash rec a . 



Dec. 5. Of Lazell & Grafton, 9.30 
9. Of Lazell & Grafton, 22.26 
15. Of do., 60.66 



26. Of Do.. 27.36 

27. Turnpike, Worcester & 

Boston, divid., 114.00 



( 'ash paid away. 



3. 


Lawrence, 


KI.IK) 


17. 


Hannah ( lleason, 


2.00 




Repairing Clock 1 dol' '. 




19. 


Charles, 


4 00 




Mrs. T. 1 dol'., 


2.00 




Sundries for the family 


6.00 




Flagg teaming Mather 




27. 


Paid Note, Turnpike, 


63.83 




Library, 


2. 5U 


28. 


Paid Mr. Thaxter for 1 




5. 


Mrs. T., 


5.00 




barrel of Cyder, 


5.50 


6. 


Flagg, Wages, 


50.00 


29. 


Paid Interest for Sim- 




11. 


Sermons, 


9.34 




mons 


6.00 


Hi 


Oil. cvc, 


2.00 




Do. Tax for a Bull, 


4.50 




Mrs. Thomas, 

17 


20.00 


. 30. 


Do. Duncan for Tubs, 


:>.oo 



258 American Antiquarian Society. 

January, 1815. 

1. Went to Church twice. 

2. Paid Mrs. Gooch, our Cook, and dismissed her at 
her request. Attended at the Bank this morning — at the 
Tanyard in the afternoon — and at the Fire Club in the 
Evening at which we supped — was chosen Chairman. 

Our Convention at the Tanyard was dissolved by Con- 
tract, the first day of this month. Our Agent for the 
last five years, — by negligence has made the business very 
unprofitable; he has caused our Stock, &c. to be 10000 
Dollars less this year than it was the last year. 

3. Attended at the Bank— no discount. The State 
has borrowed of us 30,000 dollars, which by charter we 
were obliged to loan to it, a 5 pr. ct. interest, and we are 
obliged to allow them one per cent, yearly on our capital. 1 

Attended at the Tanyard again this Evening, we talk 
of forming a new Company. 

4. My grand daughter Mary Rebecca went to a Ball. 

5. A fire broke out this forenoon in a Factory opposite 
to my house, but adjoining the Brook, belonging to Williams 
& Earle Carding Machine Manufacturers, &c. The build- 
ing which was large, and of wood was wholly destroyed. 2 



1 By the renewed charter of the Worcester Bank, in 1812, the state could call 
upon it at any time, for a loan of any sum not exceeding ten per cent, of the amount 
of the capital stock paid in, to be repaid in five annual instalments, or at a shorter 
period, at the election of the state, with interest at five per cent.; but it could not 
borrow more than twenty per cent, of the capital stock, without the consent of 
the corporation. 

The bank was also required to pay a tax of one-half of one per cent, on the amount 
of the original stock, within ten days after each semi-annual dividend, provided 
that a like tax should be required of all banks afterwards incorporated, and that 
the right of the General Court to lay a tax upon any bank already incorporated, 
should not be impaired. 

2 This faotory stood on the site later occupied by Court Mills. The loss was 
estimated at four thousand dollars. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 259 

6. Attended at the Tanyard. Dined with Capt. 
Joshua Blake. A farewell Dinner — he going to remove to 
Northampton. 

8. Went to Chh. in the morning. 

9. Examined Worcester Library with other Directors. 

10. Attended at the Bank. Evening at M r . Stedmans. 
Have devoted the last 3 months to the Concerns of the 
Antiquarian So y . 

12. National Fast, — but one meeting at Chh. which I 
attended. 

13. Frigate President taken by 3 British Frigates. 

15. Did not go to Chh. 

16. Have been engaged with the Council of the Anti- 
quarian Society for the last three days in revising the 
Laws of the Society, which were this day completed. 

17. Went to Boston in the Coach accompanied by my 
Grand daughter Mary Rebecca. Was only 6^ hours on 
the Journey. 

18. Attended a Meeting of the American Antiq". Society 
at the Exchange Coffee house in Boston. Passed the new 
code of Laws for the Society. Spent the Evening and 
supped with Major Benj a . Russell, about 30 gentlemen 
present. 

20. Returned to Worcester with Lawrence in the 
Coach in 1\ hours. 

21. Attended in the Even fc '. the Tanyard Company. 

22. AVent to Chh. twice. 

24. Attended at the Bank. 

25. Spent the Evening at Mr. Maccarty's. 

26. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde. 



260 



American Antiquarian Society. 



27. 



Met at the Tanyard this Evening. 



29. Went to Meeting twice. 



February, 1815. 

3. Frazer sat out with Lawrence in a Sleigh for Smith- 
field to see Miss Anne L. Sheldon, but the sleighing being 
J?ad returned. Rec d . a Letter &c. from M r . Sheldon in 
Jamaica. 

4. Took Physick. 

5. Went to Chh. once. 

7. Mrs. Frazer, our housekeeper set out again for 
Smithfield. Attended at the Bank. 

8. Mrs. Frazer returned from Smithfield. Miss Anne 
L. Sheldon returned with her. 

10. Bells rung and Cannon discharged in Worcester for 
the Success of our Arms at New Orleans on the 8 th of 
Jan y . last. 

11. Attended at the Tanyard. 

12. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit 
yesterday and returned this clay. 



Jan. 





Cash receive) 








111. 


( >!' Lazell & Grafton for 






For tickets, 


245.00 




Sale-, 7.S7A 




20. 


For Kent — in Boston, 


180.00 


16. 


Of Do., 7.30 






Dividend — St aff< iri 1 




19. 


Rent in Boston, 50.00 






Turnpike, 


•JT.IKI 




Cash paid away. 






2. 


Mrs. i ropch <>ur Cook, 17.00 






Paid M r . ( Sore for paint 




1. 


Sundries, family. 3.00 






Courthouse, 


45.00 


6. 


Cutler for Weekly Mes- 




19. 


Broad Cloth, flanne 






senger, 2.50 






&c, 


50.00 




Paid Homer, brick ma- 






Mrs. Thomas, 


24.00 




son, 5.00 






Glass for picture, 


6.75 


0. 


Paid l'o-t office, fi.00 






Lawrence, 


9.00 


10. 


Turkies. 2.00 




26. 


Paid Putnam for Stone 


s 


12. 


Paid M' David Brown, 15.00 






across the Road, 


5.00 


13. 


Eggs &c, Oil, 2.52 






Frazer, 


5.00 


16. 


Hannah, 0.00 






W 1. 


2.00 


18. 


Paid for Tickets M r . 

\\\, 306.30 




30. 


Wood, 


2.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 261 

13. About one °Clock last Night, an Express went 
thro' town from Newyork for Boston with the News of 
Peace being concluded at Ghent between our Government 
& that of. Great Britain; this intelligence was confirmed 
this day on the arrival of the Mail from Newyork. The 
Bells were immediately rung and Cannon fired. Articles 
of Peace was agreed on on the 24 th December last. 1 

Mrs. Thomas, Rev. Dr. Bancroft and Mrs. Bancroft 
visited Rev. Mr. Nash, West Boylston. 

14. Loaned my deed of the Maccarty Estate to Mr. 
Burnside. Attended at the Bank. 

15. Great Rejoicings in every part of the United States on 
account of the news of Peace — Itisamosthappyeventfor this 
Country. Antiq". Society — Sub council met at my house. 2 

16. A number of Gentlemen, 10 members of the 
American Antiquarian Society and others dined with me. 

17. Peace with England ratified by the President & 
Senate. 

1 The National Mgis of 15 February, says: "On the receipt of the late glorious 
intelligence from New Orleans in this town, a National Salute was fired and the 
bells rung for one hour. The expressions of joy. were enthusiastick and almost 
universal. National pride absorbed party distinctions — and the citizens seemed 

.to have forgotten whether they were Republicans or Federalists, remembering that 
they were all Americans and that they had one common country whose fate tbey 
must share, in whose adversity they must all suffer and in whose triumph they 
ought to feel equal interest and exultation. When the still more vivifying intelli- 
gence of PEACE arrived, their transports could hardly be restrained within the 
bounds of moderation. Business was suspended and people of every age, sex, 
party and condition united in manifestations of the most heart-felt joy. Mutual 
.congratulations and reciprocal engagements to drown past animosities in oblivion 
appeared to knit all men together by the ties of friendship and patriotism. May 
this happy unanimity long prevail, and in future may the only rivalship ol parties 
he a noble emulation in exertions for the best good of our beloved countrv. National 
Salutes were fired on Monday (eighteen guns in each quarter of the town), and 
repeated yesterday, and the bells again rang a merry peal." 

2 The laws of the society, as adopted 13 January, 1815, provided that the council 
should consist of two sub-councils, of five members each, of the councillors chosen 
for the several states, and of those for Plymouth and Maine. One sub-council, com- 
posed of members living in the vicinity of the library, was required to manage the 



'2C)'2 America n Antiquarian Society . 

18. A fire broke out this day, in the midst of a violent 
Storm of wind & snow, and very cold, in a store belonging 
to Sam 1 . Brazer, 1 which consumed the Store, in which 
was M r . Newton's 2 Law office — Mr. Brazer's house, Enoch 
Flagg's house, E. & E. Flagg's new Bake house, & M r . 
Flagg's barn all consumed. 3 



immediate concerns of the library and cabinet; to meet monthly to consult 
on measures for the benefit of the society; and once in three months to make a 
thorough examination of the library and cabinet and report their proceedings to 
the council. The duties of the members of the second sub-council who lived in 
or near Boston, were to consult on the general concerns of the society, and to make 
a like report to the council. This was the first meeting of the local sub-council. 

1 Samuel Brazer began life as a baker in Oharlestown, but being burned out when 
the British destroyed the town, he removed to Worcester, and opened a bakery 
on the west side of Main street, nearly opposite the Central Hotel, which not, only 
supplied most of the stores in Worcester County, but many of those in the neighbor- 
ing towns of Middlesex. He later added to his business a retail trade in English 
goods and crockery, and in October, 1785, advertised for sale, "At the Sign of the 
Old Maid," a general assortment of crockery ware, flour, biscuit and gingerbread. 
In 1798 he relinquished the bakery and confined his stock to West India goods and 
general merchandize. After acquiring a large fortune, he subsequently lost it. by 
the conveyance of real estate in Boston, to which the title proved defective, and 
he was compelled to spend two years in a debtor's prison, from which he had been 
released but a short time before this fire occurred. With his share of the contribu- 
tions collected for the sufferers by the fire he built the large brick house of two 
tenements, which was afterwards owned and occupied by William Dickinson. Re- 
opening his store in the basement, he succeeded in extricating himself from em- 
barrassment, and in a few years was enabled to retire from business. 

Mr. Brazer married Betsey, daughter of James Allen, of Wendell, Mass. 
[Born, Charlestown, Mass., 1755. Died, Worcester, 10 August, 1835.] 

2 Rejoice Newton, the son of Isaac and Hester Grennell Newton, of Greenfield, 
Mass., was graduated from Dartmouth ir 1807, studied law with Judge Newcomb 
and Elijah H. Mills, in Greenfield, and was admitted to the bar in Hampshire County 
in 1810. He settled in Worcester, and until 1814, was a partner of Francis Blake. 
In 1818 he succeeded William Charles White, as County Attorney, but resigned in 
1825. In the following year he formed a partnership with William Lincoln, which 
lasted for many years, and he was also at one time associated with Edwin Conant. 
In 1842 he was appointed Commissioner in Bankruptcy, serving until the law under 
which the appointment was made, was repealed, in 1856. He was a representative 
to the General Court in 1820, 1830 and 1831, and a member of the Senate in 1834. 

Mr. Newton married, 24 April, 1817, Rebecca, daughter of Levi and Martha 
Waldo Lincoln. 
[Born, Greenfield, 11 October, 1782. Died, Worcester, 4 February, 1868.] 

3 This was the most destructive fire which Worcester had experienced up to this 
time, and caused a loss of more than ten thousand dollars. It was discovered at 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



263 



20. My Sister, Mrs. Susannah Amelia McCulloch, of 
Philadelphia, died this day in that city, aged 68. She 
has had four husbands, and died a widow. The former 
part of her life as well as my own, was attended with many 
singular circumstances. 

21. Attended at the Bank. 
Great Rejoicing in Boston on the Ratification of 



22. 

Peace. 
23. 
24. 
26. 
27. 



Cannon fired for the Ratification of Peace. 

I this day heard of the death of my sister. 

Went to Chh. twice. 

Sent Mrs. Frazer to Lancaster to see and to carry 



some articles to my brother's wife, and some money to him. 



about two o'clock in the afternoon, and the driving snow so impeded the efforts 
of the firemen, and a furious north wind spread the flames so rapidly, that it threat- 
ened to destroy the whole south part of the town. Immediately after the fire, 
a committee, consisting of Joseph Allen, Benjamin Heywood, Daniel Waldo, Samuel 
Austin, Aaron Bancroft, William Stedman and Levi Lincoln, Jr., was appointed 
to solicit and receive contributions for the relief of the sufferers; and as was custom- 
ary at that time, a circular asking for aid, was sent to the different clergymen in 
the county, to be read from their pulpits on the following Sunday. Twenty- seven 
hundred dollars were subscribed by the citizens of Worcester, and eighteen hundred 
dollars were sent from other places for this purpose. 



Feb. 



Feb. 







Cash received. 






2d 


Of Lazell & Grafton 


9.84 


27. 


Borrowed of M r Jenni- 




7. 


For Corn 


1.25 




son, 


11.00 


20. 


Maccarty Pew Kent, 


14.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 


Rec 1 . of Lazell & Grafton 
Of the Bank, 


,5.00 
49.00 


1. 


For Venison, 


4.50 


. 15 - 


Do., 


30.00 




Paid Messrs. Sutton, 


4. 7 


' 17. 


Caroline's Schooling, 


6.67 


3. 


Frazer 4 dols — Lawrence 




Oyl & Segars, 


1.66 




6 dols., 


9.00 


20. 


Wellington, Wood 4.00 






Sundries for Mrs. Sim- 




Venison 1.50, 


5.50 




mons, 


6.00 


21. 


Pork 2.30 Hannah Glea- 




4. 


Wood— 2 loads, 


5.00 




son 5., 


7.30 




Col. Child towards Rales, 8.00 




Wood — Parker, 


2.35 


8. 


Wood 3 loads, 


5.67 


24. 


Hamilton's Acct., 


5.95 




Wood 1 load, 


1.69 




Frazer, 


1. 6 




Oysters .32 E. & 


E. 


27. 


Postage, — 


1. 2 




Flagg Flour 13, 


13.32 




Wood, 


5.00 


9. 


Hay, 


14.00 




Lawrence & my brother 


6.00 


10. 


Wood, 


14.34 


28. 


Wood, 


3.58 


11. 


Do., 


3.00 




Paid William's Account 


6.00 



264 



American Antiquarian Society. 



March, 1815. 



2. A splendid Ball in Worcester this Even g . on account 
of Peace. The Hall (at Wheeler's Inn) beautifully deco- 
rated and illuminated. 100 present. 1 

5. Went to Chh. twice. 

7. Unwell — cholick — had Physician. 

8. Anne L. Sheldon went to Smithfield. 

9. Another Ball at Wheeler's, got up [by] the farmers 
and Mechanicks, — in high style also— 150 present. 

12. Went to Chh. twice. 

13. Mrs. Thomas has had for several days an inflam- 
mation in her face — Frazer unwell — On Thursday last 
sent again for little Becky, my old servant Levi's daughter. 



1 The original manuscript of the annexed subscription list for this ball, is in the 
possession of Mr. Nathaniel Paine. 

"To express our joy at the happy return of peace we the subscribers associate 
together, and agree to celebrate that event by a ball and supper, and splendid illumi- 
nation of the Hall and appartments at Wheelers, and will pay our respective pro- 
portions of the expense which may be thereby incurred. 



W m Stedman, 
Saml. Allen, 
Theoph 8 Wheeler, 
Dani Clap, 
Jos. Allen, 
Isaiah Thomas, 
Edward Bangs, 
Stephen Salisbury, 
Jere h Robinson, 
Daniel Waldo, 
A. Hamilton, 
Nath. Paine, 
John Fo\croft, 
Gardner Burbank, 
W-. Coolidge, 
A. Bancroft, 
R. Sikes, Jr., 
S. M. Burnside, 
Levi Heywood, 



Benj. Heywood, 
Silas Brooks, 
Henry Burnett, 
Rejoice Newton, 
Levi Lincoln, Jr., 
Elisha Flagg. 
Sam 1 . Jennison, Jr., 
John Brazer, 
William Andrews, 
David Brigham, 
F. A. Blake, 
Peleg Sprague, 
Pliny Merrick, 
W m Manning, 
Hanmel Allen, Jr., 
John W. Lincoln, 
Austin Denny, 
Charles Bridge, 
Levi Sikes, 



Charles Wheeler, 
W"> D. Wheeler, 
Geo. A. Trumbull, 
Eben r . Hathaway, 
Reuben Wheeler, 
J. Brooks, 
Fra 8 . E. Putnam, 
W°> McFarland, 
John Green, 
W. Paine, 
W™ E. Green, 
E. D. Bangs, 
Elijah Burbank, 
M. B. Belknap. 
Enoch Flagg, 
Nath 1 Maccarty, 
N. A. Paine, 
F">. Blake." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 265 

19. Went to Chh. twice. 

24. Court C. P. ended. 

25. Attended at the Bank & Tanyard. 

26. Went to Chh. twice. 

28. My son came this evening in the Stage from Boston. 

29. Frazer very unwell — has been so for the month 
past. Had the physician again. 

31. My son returned to Boston. Frazer still confined 
to her room and bed; has a nurse. Part of this woman's 
illness is discovered to be feigned. 

April, 1815. 



1. Let -J of the Maccarty house and the Land to 
William Parker for 70 dollars per annum to be paid quar- 
terly. He is to have a bondsman. Attend at the Tanyard 
this Evening. 

2. Went to Chh. in the afternoon. 

3. 100 Sailors in Coaches passed through town from 



Mar. 









Cash received. 


\ 




1. 


Of the Bank, 




49.50 




25. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 


28. 7 


4. 


Of the Library Coy., 


28.80 






Do. — note, 


3.00 


20. 


Borrowed of 


Judg« 






27. 


Foster, 


1.50 




Bangs, 




15.00 
Paid £ 


way. 




Judge Bangs paid, 


7.90 


4. 


Wood, 

Mrs. Thomas, 




3.67 
15.00 




17. 


Sundries, 

Postage for Letters from 


1.50 




Oyl, 




1.00 






me, 


3.00 


6. 


Butcher, 




5.00 




20. 


Paid for Hay, 16 dols. 




9. 


Fales for Wood, 




15.00 






Meat 2.00, 


18.00 


10. 


Paid Patch, 




20.00 




21. 


Oyl, 


1.00 


11. 


Caroline's School 


ing, 


2.38 






Mrs. Thomas, 


15.00 




Sundries, 




2.00 




25. 


Paid Judge Bangs, 


15.00 


15 


Cash — Wood, 




1.92 




28. 


Sundries, 


2.00 



266 American Antiquarian Society. 

the Lakes for Boston, to go on board ships of war now 
fitting out for Algiers. 1 Fire Club Meeting. 

6. Annual Fast. Went to Chh. in the afternoon. 
Henry Hill Cunningham from Montreal — bought of him 3 
pieces linnen $113.50. 2 pieces Cambrick 24 dols. and he 
paid 200 dols. towards his note — took up old notes and 
gave new. 

7. Frazer remains unwell. 

8. Went to the Tanya rd. 

9. Went to Chh. twice. 

10. Moses Thomas dined with me. Anne Sheldon 
returned yesterday from Smithfield. 

13. National Thanksgiving on account of the late 
Peace, unwell. Rode out, 

14. Hon. Tim y Bigelow and the Rev. Dr. Bancroft 
dined with me. Judge Bangs spent the afternoon and 
Evening with me. 

15. Attended Tannery Meeting. 

16. Unwell did not go to Church. 

17. Rode out. Attended with the Rev. D rs . Bancroft 
and Austin to examine 2 young Women and a young 
man to keep the Schools of the District. This day F. 



1 For many years the Barbary States, and especially Algiers, had been accustomed 
to send out piratical vessels to prey upon the commerce of other nations, which 
had been obliged to pay an annual tribute as a ransom for the prisoners taken by 
them. Since the outbreak of the war of 1812, the Dey of Algiers, thinking that 
our navy was crippled, became more insolent in his demands, and finally declared 
War. Commodore Decatur was sent with a squadron of eleven ships to the Medi- 
terranean, and before the Dey had learned of his setting out, had captured two 
of his vessels, and taking him by surprise, not only frightened him into releasing 
his American prisoners, but forced him to sign a treaty abolishing the tribute. 
He then required Tunis and Tripoli to make indemnity for violations of their neu- 
trality during the war. Meanwhile the European governments continued sub- 
missively to pay tribute. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 2(37 

behaved rather singularly — more so than usual — as for 
some time there has been an appearance of affected dis- 
content. 

18. Discovered to my amazement the cause — Some 
people are easily duped — experience will not always teach 
wisdom. Rode out. Attended the funeral of Daniel 
Lincoln, 1 Son of the Hon. Judge. 

19. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster. 

20. Anne L. Sheldon went with Mr. Parker to Charles- 
town. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster. 

21. Walked about a mile and a half. Felt weak and 
unwell. Cold stays by me. 

23. None of the family went to Church. 

25. Mrs. Parker my niece came on a visit. Mrs. Seaver 
also. Walked out this day, have been ill with a bad cold 
3 weeks. Attended at the Bank. 

26. Went to the farm. Walked to Mill Stone hill. 
Mrs. Putnam, Mrs. Seaver and Mrs. Parker dined with 
us. Hannah Gleason went, to Chelmsford yesterday. 
White washed the Kitchen, the back Porch, little room 
& Kitchen Stair way. Attended at the Bank. Mrs. 
Parker went home. 

29. Went to the Tanyard this afternoon. 

30. Did not feel well. Did not go to Chh. nor Mrs. 
Thomas. 



1 Daniel Waldo Lincoln, the son of Levi ami Martha Waldo Lincoln, was graduated 
from Harvard in 1803, studied law with his father, and settled in Portland, Me. 
He was appointed by Governor Sullivan, county attorney for Cumberland County, 
practised in Boston from 1810 to 1813, and then returned to Portland. He delivered 
the Fourth of July oration at Worcester, in 1805, and that before the Bunker Hill 
Monument Association, at Boston, in 1810. 

[Born, Worcester. 2 March, 1784. Died, Worcester, 17 April, 1815.] 



268 



American Antiquarian Society. 



May, 1815. 



1. Went to town meeting to vote for Representatives. 
Went to view the bank house to see what repairs are want- 
ing. Mrs. Fuller came to stay a few days with us to do 
housework. Mrs. Sever having tarried with us on a visit 
for a week, went home this day. Sub council of A. A. S. 
met at my house — adjourned till Wednesday Even*. 
Have felt very unpleasantly several days. 

2. Training. 1 Attended at the Bank. 



'"Training Day" was our first holiday, its origin dating back to the earliest 
days of the Massachusetts Colony, when the different towns were required to keep 
watches and wards for their defence. Consequently in these towns military bands 
were formed, organized into districts, which were in reality the military wards, 
where the watches were kept. At first company trainings were held every Saturday •' 
then every month: and then eight times a year. They began at one o'clock in 
the afternoon, and were opened and closed with prayer. The only music was that 
of the drum. All between the ages of sixteen and sixty were required to perform 
military service, magistrates and ministers alone being exempt; but as the popula- 
tion of the colony grew, this list was gradually increased. Each man was required 
to furnish his own arms and powder, and the fines for neglecting to do this and 



Apr. 1. 



Cash received. 



At the Bank, 325.00 

For Miss Weld, 12.50 

For Miss Armstrong, 17.50 
Of Moses Pierce, inter- 
est, 51.38 
Of Dr. Bancroft, for M*. 

Alden, 5.00 

Of Cunningham, 200.00 

Of M r . Steadman for 

Alden, 5.00 



10. 
15. 

17. 



IT,. 



Of Nancy Hair Pew Rent, 7.00 
Interest of Dr. Bancroft, 41.00 
Of Mr. Jennison for Mr. 

Alden. 2.00 

Of Webb for Rent, 75.00 
Of Darby on Reed's 

Note, 25.00 

Of Patch, Joseph, 3.00 

Of Mr. Burnside — Cash 

lent, 25.00 



12. 





Cash paid away. 




Carriage tax, 


7.00 


15. 


Paid pew tax. 36.00 


Mrs. Thomas for family, 


20.00 


17. 


Paid Mrs. Thomas, 30.00 


Frazer, 


1.25 




Paid Webb's account 


Paid Mr. Jennison (bor- 






for shaving, &c. 37.20 


rowed), 


11.00 




Sundries family, 2. 


Mr. Brown indorsed on 




19. 


Col. Child? posts & nails, 9.45 


Note. 


25.00 


20. 


Paid Dr. Green's bill. 41.68 


Loaned M r . Burnside, 01 




23. 


Paid Miss Armstrong, 


Note, 


25.00 




dividend, 17.50 


For Hay, 


17.50 


24. 


Hannah < ileason, 5.00 


.P.I. Patch (Nathan), 


7.00 


25. 


Hank, Kill. (Ill 


( »> 1 & Sundries, 


3.00 


26. 


Whitewashing, 1.50 


Paid Flagg, Taxes, 100.00 


28. 


Young A- Minns, 5.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 2.69 

3. Sub council met this Evening. Settled with 
Lawrence to the 26 th of Decern 1 ", last — ballance due to 
him to that time $7.51. F. has the figits. 

4. Met at the Tanyard this morn*, with the C°. to 



for absence from military duty were severe. Up to the year 1093, no regular uni- 
form was required. An office in the militia was a much coveted honor, even as 
late as the early part of the last century. When John Hull, a Boston merchant, 
was made a corporal, in 1648, he praised God for giving him acceptance and favor 
in the eyes of His people, and, as a fruit thereof, advancement above his deserts; 
and on his promotion to an ensignship, six years later, recorded his prayer, "beseech- 
ing that the good Lord, who only can, would please to make me able and fit for, 
and faithful in, the place I am called unto, that I may, with a spirit of wisdom and 
humility, love and faithfulness, obey my superiors, and also be exemplary and 
faithful to my inferiors." 

Although these days took the form of regular holidays, the training itself was 
no mere playing at soldiers, but a serious study for the public defence; and the 
importance attached to the volunteer militia is shown by the pages of regulations 
devoted to it in the Acts and Resolves. Winthrop says in his Journal, 1.5 September, 
1641: "a great training commenced in Boston, which continued two days. About 
twelve hundred men were exercised, in most sorts of land service. Yet it was 
observed that there was no man drunk, though there was plenty of wine and strong 
beer in the town, not an oath sworn, no quarrel, nor any hurt done." After the 
regular exercises of the day, the chief amusement was firing at a mark, when a 
prize was often offered by some wealthy man in the town, — usually a silk hand- 
kerchief, or more rarely a silver shoe-buckle. 

In the relaxation following the peace of 1783, when other questions were occupy- 
ing the minds of the people, the militia was neglected. The state and national 
constitutions also made some changes in the laws governing it. Only those between 
the ages of eighteen and forty-five were liable to military duty. Instead of training 
eight times a year, each captain was required to parade his company for inspection, 
for correcting the company roll and for choosing officers, on the first Tuesday in 
May, from which the term "May training" is derived; and in September or October 
the general brigade musters were held. The war of 1812 caused a temporary 
revival of military ardor, but after its close the training soon became a mere form. 
Fearon, the English traveller, describes one in the streets of Pittsfield, in 1817, 
in which there was no attempt at discipline, no uniforms were worn, making it 
difficult to distinguish the officers, and the arms were sticks, umbrellas and muskets. 
At the church door many of the men were drinking cider, all were talking, and 
each one seemed to do as he pleased. The day finally became so great a farce, 
that in a few years it was discontinued as a holiday. On the reorganization of 
the system, and the creation of an active, as well as an enrolled militia, in 1840, 
the "May Training Day' ; gave place to the "May Inspection," on the last Wednesday 
in May. This, in turn, has been changed, by various orders, to the present annual 
drill, which is held at the discretion of the commanding officers. 



270 American Antiquarian Society. 

consult about selling our property — Accepted the appoint- 
ment of appraisor of the estate of Dan 1 . Waldo Lincoln, 
Esq r . My brother came from Lancaster to see me. 

5. Mrs. Thomas went to Boston in the Carriage with 
Lawrence. My brother returned to Lancaster. Walked 
with Judge Paine 3 or 4 miles. 

7. Went to Chh. twice. 

8. Black Rebecca Harry — scoured the painted rooms, 
&c. 

9. Hannah Gleason returned. 

10. Dismissed Hannah Gleason — had a very serious 
conversation with F. who appeared sensible of having 
conducted very improperly, asked to be forgiven, and 
promised nothing of the kind should take place in future — 
Reconciliation was the consequence. 

12. Walked with Judge Paine about 4 miles. Drank 
tea and spent the Evening with Judge Bangs. Rec d . a 
letter from my daughter delivered to me by Rev. Mr. 
Preston of Burlington. 

13. Mrs. Thomas, and my son's wife and grandson 
Edward came up from Boston in the carriage with Lawrence. 

14. Went to Church twice. Mr. Capron 1 of Sterling 
preached for Dr. Bancroft the first time. 

16. F. H. says L. is dismissed. Hired a black man, 
Elias Toney to help forward the work in the garden — 
also William's son half a day. 

17. Cow lame with the fouls for some time past. 

18. Worked all day in the Garden. 

19. Carriage got ready in the morning and baggage 
put in order to go to Boston but stopped on account 



1 Rev. Lemuel Capron, minister of the church in Sterling, from 1815 to 1819. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 271 

of the rain. Parker came to work but did nothing on 
Ace*, of the rain. 

20. Went to Boston with my daughter in Law and 
our housekeeper Mrs. Frazer in the Coach. Dined at 
Eaton's. Hired Parker a farmer for 5£ days — began 
planting — 5/ per day. Carried to Boston 7090 dols. from 
Worcester Bank and deposited it in the Merchants and 
Mechanicks bank in Boston. 

21. In Boston went to Church twice — In the Morning 
at the Chapel; in the afternoon at the Stone Church lately 
rebuilt in Summer Street, Mr. Thatcher's. 

22. Sent Lawrence home with the Coach. Mrs. 
Rebeccah Ewers went up in it, on a visit. Walked about 
Boston most of the day. Paid for Tickets in P. B. Lot y . 
257 dols and 50 Cents. 

23. Walked out to Roxbury and returned before break- 
fast. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. Oxen lame. 

24. Went by invitation to an Exhibition and explination 
of M r . Brown's Grammatical Key — a machine and new 
System of teaching Grammar — and an exhibition of small 
Children of Grammar. 

25. Went to View Sargent's painting of the Landing 
of our forefathers. 1 Spent the Even g . at Benj a . Weld's 

Esq r . 

26. Went to the State house with Sam 1 . J. Prescott, 2 



1 This well-known picture of Samoset welcoming the Englishmen, by Colonel 
Henry Sargent, of Boston, was exhibited at this, time, in the great hall of the Ex- 
change Coffee House. It was afterwards presented by the artist to the Pilgrim 
Society, and now hangs in Pilgrim Hall, in Plymouth. 

2 Samuel Jackson Prescott, the son of Dr. Oliver and Lydia Baldwin Prescott, 
of Groton, Mass., was graduated from Harvard in 1795, and studied law in the 
office of William Prescott, in Boston. Soon after his admission to the bar deafness 
compelled him to give up his practice, and he was for some years a dry goods mer- 
chant in Boston, but was unsuccessful, owing to the embargo of 1807, and the war 
of 1812. He then devoted himself to genealogical and statistical study, and com- 



'1 1 '1 American Au/it/uar/mi Sotiety. 

Esq r . to get the Books given to the American Antiq So y 
by an Act of the Legislature. 1 

27. Walked to Roxbury and back again. Dined with 
E. T. Andrews. Went to see the Paintings of the Battle 
on Lake Champlain and at Plattsburg. I have taken 
cold. Very hoarse for 3 days. 

28. Unwell — did not go to Church. 

29. Lawrence came from Worcester for me with the 
carriage. Rev. Dr. Bancroft and Hon. Oliver Fiske came 
in it. Capt of the frigate Constitution landed on the long 
Wharf — military parade on the occasion — he was escorted 
to the Exchange Coffee house. I was introduced to him 
by Maj r . Russell. Large concourse of people. 2 . 

30. Hoarseness begins to abate — Spent the Even 6 , at 
E. T. Andrews — much Company. Played whist with Mrs. 
& another lady. 

31. Returned to Worcester in the Coach with Frazer. 
Sat out from Boston at \ past 9 °Clock in the morn*. 



piled the index for the triennial catalogue of Harvard, which was first published 
in- the issue of 1830. 

Mr. Prescott received the degree of A.M. from Harvard, and from the College 
of New Jersey, in 1816; and that, of LL.D. from Aberdeen. He was elected a 
member of the American Antiquarian Society in June, 1813, and was a member 
of the Council from 1814 to 1810. 

[Born, Groton, 15 March, 1773. Died, Brookline, Mass., 7 February, 1857.] 

1 The General Court passed an act, 15 February, 1815, granting to the society 
two copies of all strife documents. A similiar act, granting to it one copy of all 
public documents, had been passed by Congress, 1 December, 1814. 

2 Captain Charles Stewart, the commander of the "Constitution," had just re- 
turned from a successful cruise in the southern Atlantic, having captured the British 
frigates "Cyano" and "Levant." He landed first at New York, where he was 
entertained with municipal honors, and a gold box containing the freedom of the 
city \va» presented to him. He landed at Boston under a federal salute, and was 

I by the "Boston Fusileers" and the "Winslow Blues" through streets 
decorated with hunting and (lags, to the Exchange Coffee House, where a reception 
and dinner were given in his honor. For his gallantry on this cruise, Congress 
voted t" liim and his men the thanks of the nation, and presented to him a gold 
medal commemorative <>f the capture of the two frigates; and the Legislature 
of Pennsylvania gave to him a gold-hilted sword. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



273 



Dined at Eaton's in Framingham, arrived at home at \ 
past 6 °Clock. 

N. B. The affair with F. mentioned 17 th of April has 
been thoroughly canvassed — and a very solemn promise of 
conducting with more propriety in future given. 

June, 1815. 



4. Went to Chh. twice. 

5. Put the room in the Office in order for a part of 
the A. A. library. The subcouncil of the American Antiq. 
So y . met as usual. Attended at the Bank. 

6. Began to Make use of the room in the Office to 
write & read in. Attended at the Bank. 

8. Anne L. Sheldon returned from Charlestown with 
Capt. John Lincoln. 1 Attended at the Tanyard. 



1 John Waldo Lincoln, the son of Levi and Martha Waldo Lincoln, after .serving 
his apprenticeship in the store of Daniel Waldo, Jr., opened a hardware and English 
goods store, a little north of Central street. He retired from business in 1822, and 
devoted much of his time to his farm at Quinsigamond, a part of the confiscated 



May 8 
15 



May 



Cash received. 



Of Lazell & Grafton, 3.42 
Of Mrs. T. part of Rents 
Boston, 35.00 

21. State Bank, dividend, 100.00 



Exchequer Bills, Inter- 
est, 25.00 
Rents in Boston, Cash, 140.00 
Order on A. Fitch for 
Goods, 55.00 







Cash paid away. 




1. 


David Brown, 


108.38 


17. 


Airs. Morse Work in the 


3. 


Frazer, 


5.00 




House, 1.50 




Lawrence, 


5.00 


20. 


Lawrence in Boston, 20.00 


4. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


70.00 




Expenses to Boston, on 


5. 


Frazer, to send to Bo 






the Road, 8.31 




ton. 


5.00 


30. 


Salmon 1.17 Barber 1.17 




Pd. Lawrence, 


7.50 




Lemons, 3.34 


8. 


Rebecca Harry, 


.45 




Calico, 3.25, Silk, 17.25, 20.50 




Fish & Butter, 


2.42 




Sundry Goods, OD order, 35.00 


1. 


Woman for washing, 


.S3 




Horses <fe Lawrence, 8.00 


2. 


Frazer 1 dol. Lemmons 




Mrs. T. Interest, 10.00 




37i cts rum .25, 


1.62* 




Paid Staunton, Debt for 


5. 


Frazer, 


11.83 




Coffee, 26.91 




Hannah Gleason, 


1.00 




Miss Weld, Dividend 
bank, 12.50 



IS 



274 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Settled with Adlington. 

11. Mr. Thayer of Lancaster preached, and dined with 
us. Went to Chh. once. 

12. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Rebecca Ewer went to 
Lancaster. 

13. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster. Went with 
Judge Heywood and Levi Lincoln, jun. over land belong- 
ing to us — to see if it should be drained — Met the Surveyors 
of Highways, to determine when and where to work — 
Drank tea with Levi Lincoln, jun r . 

14. Made an agreement with Hastings & Davis two 
young Men to get out and complete all the Stock in the 
Tanyard at prices agreed on — signed by them and all 
the Proprietors. Walked 3 miles. 

15. Discovered again F's conduct and find it to be like 
that mentioned the 17 th of April — it destroys all confi- 
dence. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas. Miss Lynde, Judge 
Bangs, and Miss Leach of Boston spent the Even 8 , with 
us. 

17. Settled the business with F. & L. but think the 



estate of John Chandler, which had been bought by his father, at the close of the 
Revolution. In 182.3 he was appointed one of the commissioners on the part of 
Massachusetts, for the survey and construction of the Blackstone Canal, and was 
one of the first board of directors of the company. He represented Worcester 
in the General Court in 1825 and 1826, and was a member of the Senate from 1827 
to 18.32. From 1844 to 1851 he was sheriff of Worcester County, and during his 
term of office many reforms were introduced in the management of the jail, one 
of the most important being the establishment of a chapel, with regular Sunday 
services. Mr. Lincoln also held many offices of local importance. He was chairman 
of the board of selectmen for many years, and when Worcester became a city, in 
1848, was a member of the first board of aldermen; was one of the originators and 
the first president of the Worcester Gas Light Company; and at the time of his 
death had been president of the Worcester Agricultural Society for several years. 
He was the earliest benefactor of the Worcester Children's Friend Society, and in 
1851 gave to it a house and lot of land on Shrewsbury street, which was for a 
number of years occupied as the Orphans' Home. 

[Born, Worcester, 23 June, 1787. Died, Worcester, 2 October, 1852.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 275 

difficulty will arise again. F. at times seems to be under 
a species of Derangement, or acts as if it was so. Received 
from Philadelphia my deceased Sisters Clothes and papers. 
Lawrence agreed to stay on one month longer at 200 dols. 
per annum. 

18. Went to Church twice. 

20. Attended at the Bank. First strawberries. Moses 
Thomas visit — agreed to go to Lancaster on Friday next. 
Rec d . a Letter from Mr. Sheldon. 

22. Mrs. T. had Comp y . Met with a number of Gentle- 
men to form a Bible Society. 1 Wrote Letters to James 
McCulloch of Baltimore, Col. Anderson, Capt. Morey, 
Mathew Carey and Miss Augusta Anderson of Philad a . 

23. Went this Morning to Lancaster — Dined at my 
brother's — Went to Sterling with Miss Rebecca Ewer — 
tarried nil night at my nephew's, as did Miss Ewer & 
Lawrence — horses, &c. 

24. Breakfasted at my Nephew's in Sterling — returned 
to Worcester in the carriage with Miss Ewer. Went to 
Dr. Bancroft's Church to hear masonic address — Dined 
with the brethren at Wheeler's. 

25. Went to Church twice. 



1 "The Auxiliary Bible Society in the County of Worcester" was organized 7 
September, 1815, for the sole object of distributing Bibles and Testaments, "in 
the common English version, without note or comment," among the families in 
the county which were without them. Its membership was open to persons of 
all denominations upon the payment, of an annual due of one dollar, or a life mem- 
bership fee of ten dollars; and all settled ministers in the county were entitled to 
membership ex-officio. The first officers were: — President, Joseph Allen, of Worces- 
ter; Vice-President, Rev. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury; Secretary, Rev. Nathaniel 
Thayer, of Lancaster; Treasurer, Benjamin Heywood, of Worcester; Directors, 
Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Benjamin Adams, of Uxbridge, Rev. John Fiske, of New 
Braintree, James Wilson, of Worcester, Rev. Elisha Rockwood, of Westborough, 
Pliny Earle, of Leicester, and Levi Lincoln, Jr. In 1822 it became a branch of 
the American Bible Society. 



276 



American Antiquarian Society. 



26. Sub Council of the Am. Antiq". Society met this 
Evening by adjournment at my house. 

27. Attended at the Bank. Began Haying. 

28. Wrote to the Sub council of the A. A. S. in Boston. 

29. This day being by the Laws of the Am. Antiq. 
Society, appropriated for a stated meeting of the Society, 
they assembled at the Worcester Coffee house, and ad- 
journed to the Library room. Anne L. Sheldon went to 
Charlestown with M r . Newton. Brought home the first 
Load of Hay. 

July, 1815. 

1. 2 Loads of Clover — sold to Judge Bangs. 

2. Went to Chh. twice. Called on Mr. & Mrs. West— 
In the morn g . 

3. 2 Loads of Clover — brought home. Attended Fire 
Club. 

4. Celebrated by the democrats only in publick, in 



Cash received. 



June 


14. 
16. 


Of Mrs. Mower for rent 
Of the Estate of Johr 
Whiting, 


45.00 
41.00 


29 




22. 


( >f Williams for Rent, 


81.80 






24. 


Of Derby for Rent, 


40.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 




2. 


Postage for Centinel ] 










year, 


1.00 


23 






Paid Parker, 


3.00 


24 




8. 


Mrs Thomas, 

Lent Earle, hatter, 


10.00 

1. -,.()() 






10. 


Paid John Flagg, foi 




20 






taxes, 


41 .55 


28 




17. 


Paid Parker, 


1.47 


29 






Paid Frazer (Note\ 


166.00 


30 




21. 


Suger, &c, 

Work mi 1 lie farm, 

Sundries, family, 


1.88 

.75 

2.50 






22. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 





Rec d . to keep for Fra- 

zer, 150.00 

Rec d . from my son for 

his note in the hank, 103.00 



Postage & Lemons, 1.32 

Expenses to Lancaster, 0.55 
Several gifts, 6.50 

Dinner at Wheeler's 

(Masonic), 1.25 

Paid Coolidge, 1.50 

Sundries, 1.00 

Shoes, Caroline, 1.00 

Paid Cashier of the Hank- 
on my son's note, 103.00 
Paid Williams my sub- 
scription towards bis 
loss by lire. 35.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 277 

Worcester. — not a large party at dinner 1 — dined at home. 
Attended at the bank. 3 men haying. Cut the grass in 
the orchard back of the house — a good crop. 

5. In the Evening Matilda Allen came to live with 
us. 

6. Continue to have 3 men making Hay — This day 
4 men, got home 3 Loads of hay. 

7. Do. 2 best hay. Cut the grass in the young 
orchard over the hill — Got in hay made back of the Garden. 

8. My grand daughter Caroline's quarter up at y e 
school of Miss Farnham 5 dols. 50 Cents per quarter. 
Caroline has been to this school in all 7 months. 

9. Went to Chh. twice. 

10. Continue making hay — 3 men. My mind has been 
very untranquilised for 3 months past at a recent event 
in my family — and relating to a principal domestick. 

11. Got in 2 loads of hay — rode out with Miss Ewer 
& Frazer — attended at the Bank. 

12. 1 load of hay. 

13. American Antiq". Society met in the small Library 
room according to adjournment and elected 72 new mem- 
bers. 2 Dr. Austin accepts Presidency of Burlington College. 
2 loads of hay. 



1 A procession of about one hundred Democrats, marshalled by Captain John 
W. Lincoln, and headed by the Worcester Artillery, marched to the Old South 
Church, where an oration was delivered by Peleg Sprague, and the Declaration 
of Independence read by Edward D. Bangs. Abraham Lincoln presided at the 
dinner, which was provided by Peter Slater and son, in a bower erected in front 
of their hotel (the Chandler mansion), at Lincoln square. 

2 Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md.; Rt. Rev. John Carroll, John Eager Howard, 
James McHenry, Robert Goodloe Harper and Rev. James Inglis, of Baltimore; 
William Coleman, of New York; David Daggett, of New Haven; Daniel Carthy, 
of Newbern, N. C. ; James A. Bayard, of Wilmington, Del.; Alexander Contoe 
Hanson, of Georgetown, Md. ; Richard Stockton, of Princeton, N. J.; James Burrill, 
Richard Jackson, Daniel Lyman, Samuel G. Arnold, Moses Brown and Asa Messer, 



278 American Antiquarian Societ;/. 

14. Continue making Hay. Ramble thro' the Woods, 
Swamp and thick Brush south and south east of the farm 
back of the hill. Much fatigued. Was accompanied by 
Mrs. Frazer and Rebecca Ewers. 

15. Finished making Hay — have made 25 loads, — got 
home 21 loads — sold 4 loads — the whole about 23 tons. 
Attended at the Tanyard. 

16. Went to Church twice. 

17. 1 Load of Hay from Thomas Street. 

18. 2 loads of Hay. Attended at the Bank. 

19. Hoeing Corn 2 d time. Priced some Effects of the 
late D. W. Lincoln, with other Commissioners. Mrs. 
Thomas and Miss Ewer rode to Millbury. 

22. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Ewer rode out before break- 
fast. Rode to Holden in a Chaise with Judge Bangs to 



of Providence, R. I.; Elisha R. Potter and Wilkins Updike, of South Kingston, 
R. I.; William Hunter, of Newport, R. I.; Samuel Ward, of Greenwich, R. I.; 
Roger Alden, Jesse Moore and Rev. Robert Johnston, of Meadville, Pa.; Dr. Thomas 
Smith, of Franklin, Pa.; Rev. William Speer and Rev. Samuel Porter, of Green- 
burgh, Pa.; Judah Colt, of Erie, Pa.; Rev. Matthew Brown, President of Washington 
College, Pa.; Rev. Andrew Wylie, President of Jefferson College, Pa.; Rev. Jeremiah 
Atwater, President of Dickinson College, Pa.; Rev. Francis Herron, James Ross, 
Benjamin H. LaTrobe, Rev. Robert Patterson and Capt. Abraham R. Wooley, 
of Pittsburg, Pa.; Rev. James Blythe, of Transylvania, Ky. ; Charles Humphrey 
Atherton, of Amherst, N. H.; Jasper Livingston, of the Island of Jamaica; Timothy 
Pitkin, of Farmington, Conn.; Roderick Mackenzie, of Lower Canada; Samuel 
Tenney and Benjamin Abbot, of Exeter, N. H. ; John Randolph, of Roanoke, Va. ; 
Rev. John H. Rice, of Richmond, Va. : George Washington Parke Custis, of Arlington, 
D. 0. ; Charles Caldwell, Washington Irving, Enos Bronson and Mathew Carey, 
of Philadelphia; Jacob Burnett and Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, of Cincinnati, Ohio; 
Rev. Samuel P. Robbins and Habijah Weld Noble, of Marietta, Ohio; Rev. John 
McDowell, of Elizabeth, N. J.; Lebaron Bradford, of Plymouth, Mass.; Elkanah 
Watson, of Pittsfield, Mass.; Rev. Edward Everett, of Boston; William Eustis, 
Minister to Holland; Rejoice Newton, of Worcester; William Plumer, of Epplng, 
N. H.; Rev. Gideon Blackburn, of Nashville, Tenn. ; Rev. Robert G. Wilson, of 
Chillicothe, Ohio; Rev. James Culberton, of Zanesville, Ohio; Rev. John Wright, 
of New Lancaster, Ohio; Jeremiah Mason, James Sheaffe and Dr. Nathaniel 
Appleton Haven, of Portsmouth, N. H.; Levi Bartlett, of Concord, N. II.; Ichabod 
Tucker, of Salem, Mass.; and Nathan Guilford, of Woodford Co., Ky. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 279 

see a young man by the name of Drury whom I want to 
hire as a Coachman. For several days past I have been 
trying to correct my Will. Dr. Bancroft went to Vermont. 

23. Went to Church twice. Mr. Stone of Brookfield 
preached. 

24. Finished hoeing Corn. 

25. Finished making my Will. Hired Wm. Drury, 
jun r . of Holden, as a Coachman, — at 175 Dollars per 
annum — he is to begin his service on the 27 th inst. 

27. Wm. Drury, jun r . came to live with me. Mr. 
Bangs, Jun 1- . 1 is copying my Will with the alterations I 
have made. 

28. Frazer our housekeeper has at last completed her 
folly as I feared. This morning about 2 °Clock she ab- 
sconded with Joel Lawrence my Coachman, a man young 
enough to be her son. It is said they are gone to Provi- 
dence to be married. She has been with us twelve years — 
and I meant to have provided for her during life. Took 
Physick. 

29. Felt very much debilitated — and have been for 2 



1 Edwarrl Dillingham Bangs, the son of Edward and Hannah Lynde Bangs, 
studied law with his father, and was admitted to' the bar in 1813. For the four 
succeeding years he was in partnership with his father's old associate, William 
E. Green, and was also, during a part of this time, the editor of the National .figis. 
In 1816, 1817, 1820 and 1824 he was a representative in the General Court, and 
in 1820 was a member of the convention for the revision of the Constitution. In 
1824 he succeeded Rejoice Newton, as county attorney, but in the same year was 
elected secretary of the Commonwealth, and removed to Boston. His love of 
historical study and his familiarity with the early records of the Commonwealth 
made him peculiarly fitted for this position, and the years in which he held the 
office were the happiest of his life; for, although he was a good lawyer, he had never 
liked his profession. Compelled to resign in 1836, on account of ill health he re- 
turned to Worcester, and lived again in his father's old house, which stood opposite 
the Court House, on the present site of Bangs Block. 

Mr. Bangs married, 12 April, 1824, Mary, daughter of Moses Grosvenor, of 
Worcester. 

[Born, Worcester, 24 August, 1790. Died, Worcester, 1 April, 1838.] 



280 



American Antiquarian Society. 



or 3 months disturbed in the family, chiefly on account 
of the conduct of our imprudent housekeeper. 

30. Went to church once — unwell — rode out. 

31. Rode out. Mr. Allen, a young Candidate preached 
yesterday for Dr. Bancroft. 

My absconding Domesticks, viz. Mrs. Frazer, our 
housekeeper, and Joel Lawrence, my late Coachman, 
returned this morning after being married in Providence 
by a justice of the Peace — They asked forgiveness for 
absconding and begged to be restored to their former 
places. I think she already repents her folly. — Have not 
yet determined respecting — I have some delicate feelings 
on this occasion — and think receiving them again would 
be attended with many inconveniences. — Neither have 
property and she has forfeited nearly 2000 dols. which I 
had provided for her in my will. He brought a Certificate 
of his marriage, by which it appeared that instead of being 
married to Frazer, he was married to Hannah L. Fiske — 
how that name was inserted he could not tell. He returned 
to Providence to get another Certificate with her proper 
name. Frazer remained in the family. I had in my will 
provided for her during her life if she remained in my 
family till my decease & remained single. 



July 







Cash received. 




11. 


Of Mr. F. Rice for half 




25. 


Sikes pew rent, 10.00 




a year, 


3.50 


28. 


Received Rent from 


13. 


Of Lazell & Grafton, 


10.00 




Boston, 180.00 


22. 


Holden Turnpike, 


6.00 
Cash pa 


id away. 




3. 


Lemons & peas, 


1.50 


17. 


Gave Charles, .50 


5. 


Post Office quarterly 






Contribution to sufferers 




bill, 


9.38 




by fire, 60.00 


7. 


Weighing Hay, 


1.34 




Paid N. Patch, 25.00 




Ringing 9 "Clock bell, 


0.39J 


18. 


Paid for meat, &c, .50 


8. 


Caroline's schooling, 


5.50 


20. 


Cash for a Straw Hat, 3.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




For quarter Cask Ma- 


9. 


Mrs. Fuller 1.00 Caro- 






deira Wine, 95.00 




line .75, 


1.75 


24. 


* Gallon Port Wine, 1.25 


12. 


Chad wick, old debt, 


1.00 


26. 


Paid Mann for labour, 10.00 


13. 


Lawrence, 


25.00 


28. 


Mrs. Thomas, 20.00 




Tumblers, 


.50 




Sundries, 2.00 


14. 


Howe 1 days work, 
Silver Pen, 


1.25 
.50 


31. 


Lawrence Wages 60.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 281 

August, 1815. 

1. Am better in health today. Began yesterday to 
take an account of Stock in the Store, which for 18 months 
past I let to Lazell & Grafton. Attended at the Bank. 

3. Sent Lawrence to Boston to sell a horse, and to 
try to get into some business for the support of himself 
& wife, late our housekeeper. Judge Bangs & family 
visited us. 

4. Went to Holden to carr} r home Mary Stratton, 
who had left a sick friend to come and assist us. Miss 
Betsey Maccarty, an aged Maiden Lady broke her arm 
by a fall. Bought and this day received a quarter cask 
of old Madeira Wine, Quantity 27 gallons. Cost with 
charges about 100 dollars. 

About the 5 th of this month nearly 15,000 squares of 
glass were broken in the houses of Salem and Marblehead 
by a hail Storm. 

6. Went to Church twice. 

8. Went to Boston in the Coach with my new Coach- 
man, Drury — dined at WiswelPs in Newton. Miss R. 
Ewer accompanied me to Boston. Arrived there at 3 
°Clock. 

9. Walked over to Charlestown to see Miss A. L. 
Sheldon. Soper went on to Newyork. 

10. Went to Salem with my Son. Dined with the Rev. 
Mr. Bentley. Returned to Boston. 

11. Settled our Annual Account with my partner 
Andrews in Boston. Our partnership has continued 26 
years. 

12. Returned to Worcester — accompanied by Miss 
Rebecca Armstrong and Miss Sheldon. 

13. Went to Church once. 



2S2 American Antiquarian Society. 

14. Joel Lawrence, my late Coachman, who ran off 
with our Housekeeper Frazer to Providence & married, 
returned from Boston on Tuesday last, and sat off for 
Boston again this morning to get some employment. I 
dismissed him my house. My mind is and has been greatly 
disturbed for some months past. 

17. My brother came on a visit from Lancaster. 

18. My brother returned home. 

20. Dr. Bancroft returned yesterday from Vermont and 
preached today. Went to Church twice. 

22. Attended at the bank. 

23. Settled and closed my concern with Lazell & Grafton 
& took back my book stock. Directors of the Worcester 
Social Library met in my house. 

24. Mrs. Thomas went to visit my brother in Lancaster, 
accompanied by Miss R. Armstrong. 

25. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster. Frazer our 
late housekeeper had all her things packed — notwithstand- 
ing her bad conduct I gave her articles to the amount of 
60 Dollars. 

27. Unwell for 3 days past — did not go to Church. 

28. Went to Boston. Frazer our late housekeeper I took 
with me as far as Framingham — where she was met by her 
husband who carried her to Boston. She was greatly agita- 
ted on parting, and expressed her folly with real anguish. 

29. Much fatigued with walking in Boston. A number 
of women waited on me who wished for the berth of a 
housekeeper. Went to Roxbury Plains. 

30. Greatly fatigued again with walking. Engaged Mrs. 
Frances Thurston as a housekeeper — a genteel widow of 
about 32 years. — Engaged also a woman as a Cook — 
Parted with Frazer, who came to see me. She appeared 
greatly grieved. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



283 



31. Returned to Worcester with the women I engaged 
to live as housekeeper & Cook. 

September, 1815. 

1. Mrs. Frances Thurston came to live with us as a 
housekeeper in the room of Frazer. Bowditch, a maiden 
woman, came to live with us as a cook. Dismissed Anne 
Read. 

2. Attended at the Tanyard. 

3. Went to Church half of the day. 

4. Nathan Patch who has been with me 3 years & 
4 months — left my employment — he goes to Newyork 
State to purchase Land for himself — a steady clever fellow. 
Wm. Andrews left Worcester, Lazell & Grafton quitted 
my Book Store— Sent Letters to Boston by M r . Maccarty. 

5. Sent two trunks full of family goods and a bed, 
all belonging to my son to Boston. He sent them here 
during the War. Received medicine for myself to take 
from Dr. Green. 

7. Worcester Bible Society first met and organized. 



Aug. 





Cash received. 






8. 


Rent of Store in Boston, 


16. 


3 doz n . Primers, 


1.00 




1 quarter, 27.50 


30. 


Rent in Boston, New- 




9. 


Of the Treasurer of the 




bury St. House, 


80.00 




Worcester Turnpike, 100.27 




In the Store, 


14.70 




Cash pa 


id away. 






3. 


Mary Stratton, 8.00 




Mrs. Frazer (alias Law- 




5. 


Family, 1.00 




rence), 


25.00 


8. 


Expenses to Boston, 1.75 




Paid Frazer, — do. for 




9. 


Miss Burns, 20.00 




D r . Green, 


23.00 


10. 


Expenses to Salem, 3.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


30.00 


11. 


Barker, .50 




Frazer, sent to Mrs. 






Teapot mending, .75 




Thomas & Cash, 


2.00 




Horses <fe Drury, 7.50 


19. 


Cash for freight to 






Children, 4.00 




teamster. 


1.67 




Expenses home, includ- 


25. 


Paid Reed for labor in 






ing Toll, 4.50 




Haytime, 


28.52 




Tobacco 60 Cents, Horse 




Mrs. Simmons, 


5.00 




Shoeing 1.75, 2.35 


28. 


Loaned Joel Lawrence, 


70.00 


12. 


Mrs. Thomas, 30.00 


29. 


Paid away, 


28.00 



284 American Antiquarian Society. 

A Lecture on the occasion at the north meeting house 
to which I attended. Sermon by D r . Bancroft. 

8. Forwarded Pamphlets to the new members of the 
Am. Antiq". Society. Mr. E. T. Andrews, his wife, his 
son William, his daughter, Miss Hannah Weld — came to 
visit us. 

9. Rode out. Attended Tanyard meeting. 

10. Went to Chh. twice. Wrote again to Mr. Sheldon. 
Mrs. Andrews & Wm. Andrews sat out this Evening in 
the Stage for Stafford. 

11. Mr. Andrews, Miss Weld, and Mr. Andrews little 
daughter, with Eliza Bancroft sat out in his carriage for 
Boston. I sat off in the Coach, with my Coachman, only 
for Walpole. Lodged in Fitzwilliam — A young woman at 
the tavern deranged. She belonged to Walpole. 

12. Arrived in W T alpole at one °Clock. Visited Sey- 
mour Sheldon's grave in Walpole, and planted some grey 
ash seeds around it. 

14. Sat out from Walpole for Worcester, at 5 °Clock 
in the morning — Lodged in Templeton. 

15. Arrived home nt noon. Found Mrs. Thomas unwell. 
She has kept in bed two days. 

16. Wm. Andrews came from Stafford last evening. 

17. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Cotton preached. 

18. Wm. T. Andrews went to Boston. 

19. Attended at the Bank. Mrs. Thomas fully re- 
covered from a few days illness. 

20. Spent the Evening with Mrs. Thomas at Judge 
Bangs's. 

21. Storm appears to be approaching. Rain in the 
night. 

22. Storm. Rain all day & night. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 285 

23. Violent Storm. Vast numbers of trees blown up 
by the roots. Eight on the Court house hill and in my 
yard, most of the fruit trees in my garden wholly des- 
troyed—Fences blown down & broken — Several Chimnies 
in Worcester blown down, and some houses partly unroofed. 
1 barn removed 20 feet. All the fruit blown from 
trees in all parts of the country and great numbers of the 
Fruit trees destroyed, and whole acres of forest trees. 
80 Squares of glass broken in my buildings. 1 



1 For several weeks preceding this storm, there had been strong indications of 
atmospheric disorder, and on the morning before a northeast rain set in, accompanied 
by a high wind, which increased at nightfall, but then gradually subsided. On 
the following morning, however, it renewed its violence, blowing from the east 
with accumulating force until eleven o'clock, when it suddenly shifted to the south- 
east, and broke into the most disastrous hurricane which has ever visited this part 
of the country. It lasted for an hour, and made a path about eighty miles in width 
through southern and central New England. It was severe in parts of New Hamp- 
shire, while in Portland, Me., and in Albany N. Y., it merely took the form of a 
heavy gale; and the city of New York was little affected. The shipping and the sea- 
port towns suffered the greatest damage, especially along the southern coast, and 
many vessels and some lives were lost. In Providence it was estimated that one 
hundred and fifty buildings were entirely demolished, including one church and 
most of the wharves and warehouses on the water front. Women and children 
were rescued in boats from second-story windows, and the streets were rendered 
impassable by the debris of buildings, vessels, furniture and merchandise. All 
the vessels in the harbor, with the exception of two, from five hundred tons down, 
broke their fasts, and were driven with the rapidity of lightning up the cove, cutting 
through the town bridge on their way, and were beached, some of them five or 
six feet above water level. One sloop of sixty tons floated across Weybosset street, 
and leaned upright against a three-story brick house in Pleasant street, with its 
mast projecting above the roof. In one place the tide rose seventeen feet above 
its ordinary level, and at Braintree, Mass., it was held back in the river for two 
hours, by the force of the wind. The change in the wind so checked the flood of 
the tide at Boston, that although the shipping and wharves suffered considerably, 
the town itself escaped with much less damage than those in its immediate vicinity. 
A few roofs were blown off, and one building — the Glass Worics — was destroyed 
by fire. About twenty of the large trees on the Mali, skirting the Common, and 
five elms, averaging nearly eight feet in circumference, on "Paddock's Walk,' 
in front of the Granary burying-ground, were uprooted. In Dorchester seventeen 
houses were unroofed, about forty barns destroyed and over five thousand fruit 
trees were levelled. In all places to the leeward of salt water the pastures were 
ruined by salt spray, and all the standing trees and vegetables were blighted as by fire. 

The damage in Worcester was confined chiefly to the fruit trees and timber. The 



28(i American Antiquarian Society. 

24. Went to Chh. twice. Had 4 or 5 men Saturday 
afternoon and today repairing damages by the Storm. 
The repair of fences, &c. will cost me at least 500 dollars. 

25. Employed with 4 or 5 persons clearing off wrecks 
made by the Storm on Saturday. Drury went to Grafton. 

26. Employed as yesterday. Supreme Court. My son's 
wife & daughter came from Boston. 

27. Frazer came up from Boston. Wretched evening. 

28. Rode out. Unwell. Moses Thomas dined with us. 

29. My Son came up from Boston. Disagreeable 
Controversy in the family. Dismissed Wm. Drury jun r . 
my Coachman. 

30. More disagreeable controversy. Dismissed Matilda 
Allen, our Chambermaid. Rode to Holden with my son 
in a Chaise. Nicholas Johnson came to live with me as 
Coachman. 

October, 1815. 

1. Went to Chh. once. Continue untranquilised. 

Massachusetts Spy says: "Neither the memory of man, or the annals of the country 
can furnish any parallel to this storm, and it is estimated that the ordinary consump- 
tion of ten years of the whole town will not exhaust the wood which is now prostrate." 
At its height there was a suffocating current of hot air, as from a bath, and the 
rain which fell in the vicinity was so impregnated with salt as to make incrustations 
on the windows. On the morning of the storm flocks of sea gulls were seen in the 
meadows in Grafton and Worcester, but after the wind had gone down, they took 
their flight again towards the sea. 



Cash received. 

Sept, 1. In the Store, 1.50 I 14. Pec' of I. Thomas & Co., 20.00 

13. R*c a . in Walpole of Mr. 23. Boots Manning, 6.00 

Thomas for T. & T., 22.37 | 30. Of Mr. Harris Pew Kent, 7.00 

Paid away. 



1. Flour, 10.00 

Sundries, 1.00 

4. Nathan Patch, 50.00 

Sikes & Sundries, 1.50 

7. Glass to mend Windows, 0.40 

9. Cyder 1.50 Boards 2.00, 3.50 

Hal for Andrew, 1.00 

11. Paid Mrs. Thomas, 10.00 



15. Expenses to »t from 

Walpole, 15.50 

18. Do., 1.00 

19. Mary Anne, 10.00 
25. Cash— Anne, 2.00 
30. Paid Matilda Allen, 13.50 

Paid Eliza for work, 2.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 287 

2. Attended the tryal at the Supreme Court of the 
first Parish against the town for the recovery of the 
parsonage. The action was brought against me I own- 
ing the premises, in the name of the late pastor D r . 
Sam. Austin. The cause went against the town by the 
verdict of the Jury. But the Verdict is of no consequence, 
as the issue depends on questions of law to be decided by 
the Court. Attended at the Bank. A new director chosen 
in my room. I find myself not able to attend longer in 
this office. Have served 12 years. 

Mrs. Andrews arrived from Stafford Springs. Matilda 
Allen left us. Sub council of the A. A. S. met at my house. 

3. Mrs. Andrews went to Boston in the Stage. At- 
tended Supreme Court. The jury on the Action first 
Parish vs. the town of Worcester, gave a Verdict in favour 
of only one charge of the parish against the town for 1500 
dollars. The parish sued for 11,000 dols. The town 
review the action. 

4. Went to Boston — Miss Sheldon with me in the 
Coach — and Johnson, a Dane, my new Coachman. 

5. Called on Mr. Joseph Steadman, who I found to 
be the husband of my new housekeeper, and whose name 
is Frances Steadman, and not Frances Thurston, as she 
called herself. I could not prevail with him to receive 
her again. 

6. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 

7. Returned to Worcester with Miss Sheldon. Mr. 
Whipple came from Walpole. 

8. None of the family went to Church. Unwell. 

9. M r . Whipple sat out for Walpole. Nathan Patch 
returned and began work. 

10. Eliot came to work. Informed our housekeeper 
Mrs. Frances Steadman, alias Thurston, by Mrs. Thomas 
desire, that she did not wish for her services any longer. 



288 American Antiquarian Society. 

11. Felt better. Anne Sheldon unwell. 

12. Getting in Potatoes. 

13. Do. Paid and dismissed our housekeeper Mrs. 
Frances Thurston, whose real name is Steadman, her 
husband by this last name, being now living in Boston, 
from whom she separated by agreement. A likely, genteel 
woman. She returned to Boston in the Stage. Anne L. 
Sheldon very unwell, has a Dr. 

14. Mr. Soper, his sister Rachel, and his little son. 
came to visit us. 

15. Went to Chh. once. 

16. They returned to Boston. Two Misses Morris, of 
Halifax, maiden Ladies, came in the Stage from Boston 
to visit us. 

17. Mrs. Legate of Leominster, and her sister, Miss R. 
Calef, of Boston, came to visit us. 

18. Mrs. Legate and Miss Calef returned to Leominster. 
This Evening the two Miss Morris, went in the Stage to 
Stafford. 

19. Got in a load of Corn. Spent the Even s . with 
Judge Bangs. 

21. Got in Corn from the field. Went in the Coach, 
with only Johnson as far as Framingham on my way to 
Boston. Lodged at Eaton's, in Framingham. 

22. Went from Framingham to Boston. 

23. Attended the Meeting of the American Antiq" 
Society. 1 Dined with them at the Exchange Coffee house. 
Officers elected. In the afternoon the Ancient & Hon. 



1 The members elected at this meeting were Stephen Sewall of Montreal; George 
Baxter Upham. Samuel Fiske and Caleb Ellis, of Claremont, N. H.; John Curtis 
Chamberlain, of Charlestown, N. H.; Benjamin J. Gilbert, of Hanover, N. H. 
Samuel Elliot, of Washington; Dr. William Bowen, of Providence; Henry A. S. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



289 



Artillery Co y . waited on the Society and escorted them 
to the Chapel, where an Address was delivered by D r . 
Paine, and there were other Exercises. 1 I was again chosen 
President. 

Dearborn, Edward St. Loe Livermore and James Cashing Merrill, of Boston; Rev. 
Thomas Robbins, of East Windsor, Conn.; and Samuel F. B. Morse, of Charles- 
town Mass. 

1 order of performances, 

AT THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBHATION 

OF THE 

AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, 
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1815. 



/. " We praise thee, God"... .By a select choir: Organ by Dr. Jackson. 

II. PRAYER. 

III. HYMN. " Before Jehovah's awful throne." (Denmark.) 

IV. LESSONS. 

V. HYMN. " Thou, the first, the greatest friend." (Colchester new.) 

VI. ADDRESS.. ..By Dr. WILLIAM PAINE, M. D. 

VII. HYMN. "To Thee! great Sovereign of the skies." (Old Hundred.) 

VIII. BENEDICTION. 



Bf.fork Jehovah's awful throne, 
Ye nations bow. with sacred joy ; 

Know that the Lord is God alone. 
He can create, and he destroy. 

His sovereign power, without our aid, 
Made us of clay, and form'd us men ; 

And when like wandering sheep we stray'd, 
He brought us to his told again. 

We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs, 
High as the heaven our voices raise; 

And earth with her ten thousand tongues, 
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise. 

Wide as the world is thy command ; 

Vast as eternity thy love; 
Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand, 

When rolling years shall cease to move. 



O Thou the first, the greatest friend. 

Of all the human race! 
Whose strong right hand has ever been 

Their stay and dwelling place! 

Before the mountains heav'd their heads 

Beneath thy forming hand ; 
Before this pond'rous globe itself 

Arose at thy command; 



That pow'r which rais'd, and still upholds 

This universal frame. 
From countless, unbeginning time, 

Was ever still the same. 

Those mighty periods of years. 

Which seem to us so vast. 
Appear no more before thy sight 

Than yesterday that's past. 



To Thee! Great Sov'reign of the skies. 

Tins day our grateful notes resound; 
From ev'ry heart shall incense rise. 

And praise throughout our land be found. 

New empires never rise by chance, — 
No veering sales dominion blow, 

A Sov'reign power doth states advance. 
And lay oppressive kingdoms low. 

Led by that power, th' advent'rous band. 

The trackless "waste cf waves" explor'd-— 
That power upheld the warrior's hand 

Which drew tor right the conq'ring sword. 

Then high the pealing organ swell,— 
From every tongue let praises rise;— 

Loud let the choral anthems tell 
TllY row's, Great Sovereign of the skies! 



(After the original broadside in the possession of the society.) 

19 



290 



American Antiquarian Society. 



25. Returned to Worcester in the Coach, with only 
Johnson the Coachman, as far as Framingham, — there 
took Judge Paine's daughter Sarah 1 to Worcester. 

26. Lawrence came to see his wife. He is desirous 
she should remain in our family this winter, and Mrs. T. 
wishes it, — his visit appeared to make her deranged. 



1 Sarah Chandler, daughter of 


Nathaniel and Elizabeth Chandler Paine. 




[Born 


Worcester, 29 November 


1794. 


Died. 


Worcester, 15 October, 1 
o 1816 


340.1 




Gifts, Charity &e. 1812 t 








1812 






Jan. 1. 


Gifts, Cash 10 dols. goods 


23. 


M. B. board, 


1.75 




6.00 


16.00 




Ch. 


3.00 


8. 


Ch. & Gifts, 


8.00 




Wm. Sheldon 80. and 




10. 


M. B. books, &c. 


2.00 




order for 150.00 


230.00 




Seymour Sheldon, over- 




JunelO. 


Ch. and other gifts 


5.00 




alls. 


4.00 


27. 


Several small gifts, 


5.00 


17. 


Ch. 


1.00 


July 4. 


Anne Sheldon 


1.00 


18. 


Do. 


.40 


7. 


M. B. 


.50 


22. 


Char'. 


2.00 


9. 


M. B's board 


5.00 




M. B. 


1.00 


15. 


Cha*. 


2.00 


24. 


Charity, 


55.00 


16. 


Gifts, 


3.00 


29. 


Do. 


2.00 




Caroline Schooling 2qters 


. 10.00 


Feb. 4. 


Ohio College 


30.71 


20. 


My brother. 


5.00 


10. 


Ch. 


81.00 


21. 


M. B. 


.45 


14. 


M. B's board, 


3.00 


22. 


M. B. 


.55 


15. 


M. B's do. 


2.00 


29. 


My brother, sundries, 


14.00 




M. B. 


1.80 


Aug. 4. 


My Brother, sundries <fe 




20. 


Cotton yarn 


.50 




Cash, 


6.80 


Feb.28. 


Charity 


1.00 




Ch>'. 


3.00 


Mar. 2. 


do. 


.50 




Gifts, 


5.00 


5. 


A. Sheldon, at twice, 


3.50 


29. 


Ch- V . 


7.00 




Charles, 


.50 


Sept. 5. 


Anne Sheldon, 


5.00 




Mary S. 


.50 


9. 


Sundries, Seymour, 


5.00 




Mary A. 


.12* 


11. 


M. B's board, 


1.50 




Ch. 


.43 


Sept. 24. 


do. Say, 


3.50 


14. 


Cash paid Miller, towards 


25. 


do. 


.50 




M. B's board, 


1.00 


26. 


Ch v . 


2.50 


16. 


M. B. 


.50 


30. 


do. 


1.00 




Pd. Miller, for M. B's 




Oct. 1. 


do. 


.50 




board, 


5.00 


9. 


M. B's board, 


5.00 


22. 


My brother, Cash, 


10.00 




M. B. 


1.00 




do. Sundries, 


5.00 


13. 


Frances & Hannah, 




May 


Charity, at twice, 


20.00 




Schooling, 


5.00 


10. 


Sundries, to sundry per- 






M. B's Tuition, 


5.00 




sons, 


5.00 


21. 


Gifts, 


4.00 


17. 


M. B. board. 


5.00 




My brother, sundries, 


1.00 




Ch. 


.50 




Frances's Schooling, 


5.00 


19. 


M. B. 


10.00 


Nov. 7. 


M. B. 


5.00 


20. 


Mrs. Parker, 


13.00 




My brother Cash, &c. 


12.00 




Miss Ewer, 


1.00 


19. 


Gifts, 


2.00 




My brother, 


1.70 


26. 


Mrs. Soper, Bible, 


17.00 


21. 


Anne Sheldon, 


3.00 




Sundries, 


1.50 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



291 



27. Frazer alias Lawrence still continues troubled in 
mind. 



28. Frazer, alias Lawrence agreed to continue with 
Mrs. Thomas as a housekeeper this winter, and everything 
respecting our domestic concerns had the appearance of 
going on well after 3 months derangement, but the visit 
of Lawrence to his wife, which she greatly dreaded and 



2.10 
3.00 
.60 
2.25 
1.50 
1.00 
2.75 



Nov. 26. Charles, 
Dec. 3. Gifts, 
Ch v . 
7. M. B. 

do. Gown. 
9. Anne Sheldon, 
M. T. daughter, 
Seymour Sheldon, Shoes, 



Jan. 1. To sundry persons in the 

family, 19.76 

5. M. B. Shawl, 2 50 
15. Anne Sheldon, cotton 

cloth 2.75 

Levi, Great Coat, 20.00 

Sundries, 5.00 

Jan. 20. Ch. 2.00 

21. Cash, rye and sundries, 

my Brother, 11.00 

26. do and sundries, 

Mary Anne, 26.30 
Sundries, 1.75 
30 A friend — books, 6.00 
.Ian. Making Clothes for Sey- 
mour the last year, 22.50 
Feb. 5. Small gifts & Ch y . sundry 

times. 3.00 
Feb. Books to a friend, and 

Cash, 8.00 

6. Miss M. B. 2.00 

10. Books, , 1.84 
Land for Baptist Chh. 250.00 
Library to Antiquarian 

Society, 5000.00 

11. Charles, .50 

12. M. B's board, 5.00 
20. do. Skirt, 3.00 

27. Ch. 2.50 
Mar. 3. do. .25 

6. M. B's board 5.00 Cash 

herself, 3.70 8.75 

Mar. 8. Anne Sheldon, .87 

Apr. 2. Miss B. 2.00 

5. A. Sheldon, 2.00 



.50 Dec. 12. M. B. books, 



1.50 

.75 



16. 



28. 



1813 



Apr. 14. 
21. 

May 1. 

4. 

18. 

24. 

June 6. 

6. 

10. 

18. 



June 26. 



July 



13. 
22. 
24. 
26. 

31. 
Aug. 9. 

20. 
Aug. 
Sept. 6. 



Miss Newman, book, 
M. B. & others in books, 

sundry times, 10.00 

In books to a School for 
poor children in Boston, 9.50 
M. B. 5.00 



My brother, 8.00 
J. Miller for Miss B's 

board, 10.00 

Charles & Ch J . 1.50 

Gingham, Miss B. 4.00 

J. Miller, board of Miss B. 5.00 

Miss B. 2.00 

Cli. Miss Johnson, 2.00 

Mrs. Parker, Cash ,&c. 10.00 

Ch. & Gifts, 4.55 

M. Burns 1.55 

Seymour, Shoes, 1.50 

Sundries, Mary B. 1.75 

My brother, sundries 3.00 

do. a Barn for him, 100.00 

Seymour Sheldon, 1.40 

Miss B. 2.00 

Charity, 3.00 

Miss B. 2.00 

MaryS. 1.00 

My Brother, 1.50 

Charity, about, 4.00 

Miss B's 1 loan I. 5.00 
Do's expense to Boston, 8.00 

Anne Sheldon, 2.00 

Ch. 1.00 

Ch. 4.00 

do. 3.00 

Gift 16.00 Do. 50, 16.50 
Levi's funeral Expenses, 15.75 

Gift, Bible, 10.00 

do. 1.00 

Ch. 1.00 

Light Infantry Co. 5.00 

Miss B. 10.00 



292 



American Antiquarian Society. 



which absolutely deranged her mind, continued through 
yesterday — and this day it seems to have increased. I 
suspect through the means of some enemy; — and she who, 
till this day, could not bear to hear the name of her husband 
mentioned without having disagreeable emotions, now 
secretly left us, and set off for Boston on foot in boisterous 
weather to meet him, leaving her clothes chiefly behind 
her, and travelled to Westborough without making any 







Ch. 


.50 






Mary Stratton, 


3.00 




8. 


Miss Burns, 


3.00 


Nov. 2. 


Mary Parker, Cash, 


11.00 






Sundries, do. 


1.00 






Charity, 


1.00 




10. 


Anne Sheldon, Sundries, 


4.25 




9. 


-Mrs. Parker, Sundries, 


8.00 






Mary Stratton, 


1.60 






Mrs. Simmons, Sundries, 


30.00 






Henry Read, 


1.00 






Ch. 


1.00 






Mrs. McCulloch, Sundries 


16.50 




16. 


My brother, Sundries, 


11.00 




15. 


My Brother, 


4.00 




24. 


Sundry persons, Ch. 


5.00 






Miss M. Parker, 


1.00 


Nov. 26. 


Sundries, Mr. Bancroft, 


5.50 






Henry Read, cloth, 


1.25 


Dec 


. 6. 


Dr. Bancroft, Rye and 




Oct 


6. 


Charity, E. Society, 


6.00 






Indian Corn, 


5.00 






Charity 


4.00 




9. 


Dinner to British 






12. 


Sundries, My brother 








Prisoners in Gaol, 


6.00 






Peter & family, 


8.00 






Ch. &c. 


5.00 






Mrs. McCulloch, 


20.00 




24. 


Mary Burns, 


5.00 




25 


Children, 


2.00 






Children, 


1.00 


Oct 




Professor Jenks, 


20.00 






Mr. Bancroft, 


2.00 






Charity, 


1.00 




25. 


Ch. 


1.00 






Anne Sheldon, Sundries 


S.00 

18 


14 








Jan 


1. 


Charity, 


1.00 




17. 


Gift, 


8.00 






Anne Sheldon, 


3.00 


Apr 


1. 


A. Sheldon, 


1.50 






Mary Stratton, 


5.00 


Apr 


. 8. 


My brother, Cash 8 dols. 








Grand daughter Mary, 


1.00 






Sundries, 5. 


13.00 


Jan 


4. 


My brother, Rye 2 bushs 






14. 


Sundry Books, for the 








& Alm ks 


3.50 






benefit of Rev. Mr. Fail 








Miss Calef, Book, 


1.00 






banks, and other Mas- 








Lawrence, do. 


1.00 






onic brethren, near 




Jan 




N. Patch, do. 


2.25 






Lake Ontario, delivered 






Frazer, Shawl, 


3.50 






Mr. Fairbanks, 


11.00 




7. 


Patch, Cash, 


2.2.5 




20. 


Ch. 


.50 






Lawrence, 


.87 




25. 


Mary Stratton, 


1.00 




8. 


J. Bancroft, Bible, 


2.50 




28. 


Ch. 


3.00 






Seymour Sheldon, about, 


4.00 


Ma> 


1. 


Gift, 


1.50 






Ch. 


2.00 






Anne Sheldon, for mourn 






20. 


Charles, 


7.00 






ing, 


5.00 






Sundry Persons, 


6.00 




12. 


Do. for Do, 


16.00 




30. 


Charity, Boy's School in 








Frazer, bonnet, 


3.50 






Boston, 


7.00 






Charles Fennimer, 


1.00 






Mrs. Crocker, 


3.00 




20. 


Lydia 


.50 


Feb'. 8. 


Ch. and my brother, 


4.00 


May 20. 


Ch. 


2.00 




25. 


Mary Burns, board, 


20.00 






Antiq. Society, Books, 3 


21.50 






Ch. 


1.25 






(In. do. do. 


41.17 


Mar 


13. 


Ch. 


14.00 




23. 


Anne Sheldon, 


3.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



293 



Stop or stay, in a state of apparent delirium. I now 
hope all our trouble arising from the strange conduct of 
this unfortunate woman is at an End. But I lament the 
loss of her services, which to me in my infirm state were 
invaluable — as they are to my family. 

29. Went to Church once. Mr. Allen preached. 

30. Mrs. Thomas visited Rev. Mr. Nash at West- 
boylston accompanied by Rev. Dr. Bancroft and Mrs. 
Bancroft. 



Oct. 





Cash received. 






From Dr. Bancroft, 






Rent of one house in 




interest, 


40.00 




Boston, 


100.00 


From the Bank divi- 




7. 


Store, 


1.75 


dend, 


395.00 


20. 


Cash of Gilbert & Dean 




State Bank, 


60.00 




dividend, 


20.20 


Loan Office — 6 per 




23. 


Rents in Boston, 


127.50 


Cent interest, 


20.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 






Mrs. Thomas' dividend 


, 20.00 


12. 


Paid Mrs. Frances Thurs 


. 


Miss Weld's — do. — 


12.50 




ton, alias Stedman, 


15.00 


Miss Armstrong's do., 


17.50 




Paid for more glass, &c. 


1.36 


Mrs. Thomas for family, 30.00 




Paid Frazer, 


3.40 


Pd. her borrowed, 


10.00 


14. 


Postage 1 quarter. 


8.34 


Paid Williams & Pres- 




16. 


Paid Soper in full, 


33.00 


ton, 


139.75 




Sundries, 


2.00 


Mr. Alden 15, Mary B. 




26. 


Sundry expenses in 




15, 


30.00 




Boston, 


23.75 


Expenses to town, 


14.00 




Mary B. at twice, 


32.00 


Children, &c, 


2.50 




Candles, 


12.50 


Mrs. Thomas for family, 80.00 


30. 


Sundries, 


3.00 


Paid John Lincoln, 


17.00 









24. 
June 2. 



21. 



Charity, 

Mary B, Cash 10 Cloth, 

Anne L. Sheldon, 

Grand children, 

My grand daughter, Mary 

Rebecca, dancing, 
Anne L. Sheldon, 
Char. 
My brother, 



Mrs. Simmons, 
Julyl2. Char*. 

30. M. B's board. 
July Sundries, M. B. 

Charity, 

do. 
Aug. 5. do. 



2.00 
10.50 
10.00 

1.25 

6.00 
1.00 
2.00 
5.72 
.50 
1.50 

20.00 
2.00 

30.00 
7.50 
1.25 
1.50 
4.00 



30. 
Sept. 5. 



is. 



24. 

Sept. 4. 
Oct. 8. 



Antiqn. Society, Books, 104.50 
Do. at sundry times pre- 
vious this year, to this 
date. 900.00 

Ch. 2.00 

Clock, 1 .75 

Ch. .75 

do. .50 

Mrs. Parker, Cash & Sun- 
dries, 8.00 
Mary Hums, 15.00 
Gifts, 20.00 
Children, &c. 2.00 
Charity. 1.00 
Gifts, Mrs. & Miss Soper, 4.00 
M. B. Shawl, 5.00 
Ch. 1.00 
19. Mybrother.Cash&Sundries 6.00 



294 



American Antiquarian Society. 



November, 1815. 

1. Gathered the last of the Indian Corn from the field. 

2. My brother came from Lancaster — Discovered that 
Matilda, who lately lived with us, had stolen a number 
of articles from us, which were found in her possession. 
Disagreeable controversy with Mrs. T. who is grown very 
fretful & childish. 

3. Matilda appeared, said at first the articles she had 
stolen were given to her; but afterwards acknowledged 
the theft. My brother returned to Lancaster. 

5. Went to Church twice. 

6. Sub Council of the Am. Antiq". Society met at my 
House. Counsellors were appointed for other States than 
Massachusetts. 1 

7. Anne L. Sheldon went in a Chaise with Nathan 
Patch to Smithfield. 



'Elijah Paine, of Williamstown, Vt. ; Nathaniel Adams, of Portsmouth, N. H.; 
Pardon Bowen, M.D., of Providence, R. I.; David Humphreys, of Humphreysville, 
Conn.; DeWitt Clinton, of New York; Charles Caldwell, M.D., of Philadelphia, Pa.; 
Rev. Samuel Miller, of Princeton, N. J.; Charles Goldsborough, of Annapolis, Md.; 
George Washington Parke Custis, of Arlington, Va. ; Benjamin Hawkins, of North 
Carolina; Langdon Cheves, of Charleston, S. C. ; Moses Fiske, of Tennessee; 
Winthrop Sargent, of Natchez, Mississippi Territory; Eligius Fromentin, of New 
Orleans, La.; Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Rev. Timothy Alden, for 
the district west of the Alleghany. 

Isaiah Thomas, Jr., of Boston; William Wilkinson, of Providence; John W. 
Francis, M.D., of New York; and Mathew Carey, of Philadelphia, were also ap- 
pointed receiving officers for the society. 





Sundry small Gifts, 


6.00 




&c. about, 


12.20 


24. 


M. 1'.. 


10.00 


Dec. 9. 


Ch. 


1.00 




Charity & Gifts, 


8.00 


12. 


do. 


1.00 


27. 


Mrs. T. flannel, 


4.00 


15. 


do. 


.50 


Nov. 1. 


Mrs. Gooch, 

Am, Antiq. Society, 


.75 




My Daughter, 

For a public Ball some- 


50.00 




books &c. 


2.00 




time since which I 




28. 


Ch. for Thanksgiving to 






did not attend 


5.00 




several persons, 


12.00 




Sundries my brothers 




Nov. 


Carting Books, remains 






wife, 


6.00 




of the Mather Library 






Ch. 


2.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



295 



8. Two maiden Ladies by the name of Morris, who 
visited us three weeks ago and then went to the Springs 
at Stafford returned having been as far as Newhaven. 

9. Matilda Allen, after having confessed her guilt to 
me denied it to others ; I again sent for her and she appeared 
very penitent and again acknowledged her crime in writing 
before two witnesses. I forgave her, and gave her good 
advice, for which she thanked me. 

10. The Misses Morris having tarried with us two clays 
returned to Leominster in my carriage. 

11. Frazer, alias Lawrence, again returned to our 
family. She came up in the Stage. Mrs. Thomas had 
written to her. Her return was unexpected to me. 

12. Went to Church in the afternoon. 

14. Met the Tanyard C°. at the yard. 

15. Met the Tanyard Company again at the Tanyard. 
Moses Thomas dined with us. Dr. Bancroft and his wife 
spent the Evening. 



Mar. 







1815 








My Grand daughter, 




10. 


Ch. 


1.50 




Trunks, &c. 


5.00 


11-. 


Ch. 


1.20 




Hannah Gleason, Book, 


.50 


15. 


Sundries, 


2.60 




Housekeeper, Gown, 


3.00 


Apr. 


do. 


6.00 




Andrew, a small Negro 




18. 


Sundries, 


3 00 




boy, 


.25 




My brother, 


7.00 




Ch. 


1.00 


23. 


Hannah Gleason, 


.75 


19. 


Mary Burns, 


20.00 


25. 


Charity, 


.50 




Ch. 


1.50 


26. 


Mrs. Parker, 


2.00 




Frazer, 


3.00 


May 5. 


My brother, cash & sun- 






Ch. 


1.00 




dries 


10.00 




Sundry Societies, 


20.00 


6. 


Ch. 


1.00 




Williams & Earle, sufferers 


S. 


Ch. 


.50 




by Fire, 


35.00 


20. 


M. B. .Cash 30.00 Sundries 


1. 


Ch. 


3.00 




4.80 


34.80 


6 


Mrs. Simmons, 


10.00 




Anne L. Sheldon, 


6.00 




do. some days since, 


50.00 




G. Children &c. sundries, 


16.00 


12. 


Ch. 


1.00 


May 31. 


Charity, 3 times, 


1.25 




Contributions for sundry 




June 


Ch, at several times, 


1.25 




purposes, 


10.00 


22. 


Frazer, sattin cloke (my 




20. 


Sufferers by Fire 


60.00 




sister's) 


7.00 


27. 


My brother, cash & Sun 






Morn 8 . Star Lodge, Bible 


2.50 




dries, 


8.00 


24. 


My Brother Cash 8 Sun- 




6. 


Ch. 

Anne L. Sheldon. 


1.00 
.50 




dries, 


25.00 



296 



American. Antiquarian Society. 



16. Burned 4 Chimnies in the house. 

19. Did not go to Chh. My son came up in the Stage 
from Boston. 

20. Rode with my son to the paper mill. 

23. Mrs. T. went to Boston with my son in the old 
Coach with Johnson. 

26. Went to Church twice. 

27. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston. My brother 

came from Lancaster. Phoebe came to live with 

us. Fire in our sleeping Chamber. 

28. My brother returned home. 

30. Thanksgiving — went to Church — We had no Com- 
pany to dine. 

December, 1815. 

3. Anson Whipple came from Walpole by way of Boston. 
Went to Church twice. Very ill with the Cholic in the night. 





My Kinswoman Mrs. Par- 








Miss Burns, at twice, 


32.00 




ker's daughters & M. 








Gifts of Cash, sundry 






Thomas's Children, 


3.50 






times, 


8.50 


July 5. 


Charity, 

Sundries Caroline & 


1.00 


Oct, 


26. 


Antiq n . Society, sundry 
times, 


756.20 




Schooling, 


14.00 


Nov 


. 3. 


My brother Cash 5. 




8. 


Mrs. Fuller, 1.00 Caroline 








Clothes, &c, 12. 


17.00 




.75, 


1.75 






Anne S., Cash, 


5.00 


18. 


Ch. sundry times, 


.50 




9. 


Charity, 


.50 


20. 


Ch. do. 


2.00 






Sundry persons, 


10.00 


Aug. 3. 


Mary Stratton, 


3.00 




14. 


Frazer, sundries, 


5.00 


Aug. 


Miss Burns, 


20.00 




15. 


Ch. 


1.00 




Ch. &c. 


5.00 




24. 


Frazer, Cotton Cloth, 


3.10 


22. 


My brother 10 & sundries, 


13.00 




28. 


My brother, Cash and 




25. 


My daughter, by Mail. 


15.00 






sundries. 


6.00 




Mrs. Frazer, (now Mrs. 




Nov 




Sundries Mary Anne, 


55.60 




Lawrence), Sundries, 


60.00 






To Mary Anne, sometime 


Sept. 1. 


Grand children, 


4.00 






since, Rice Note, 


60 




Charity. 


1.50 






dols. Cash, 


60.00 


12. 


Matilda, 


.50 


Dec 


5. 


Charity, several times, 


5.00 




Ch. 


1.00 






Gifts, 


10.00 


25. 


Anne S. 

Sundrya to sundry per- 


2.00 




7. 


Do. 

Do. Frazer, Shalloon, 


2.00 
2.00 




sons, 


40.00 






Sundries, Ch. 


5.00 


Oct, 24. 


Anne S., Flannel 3.50 






21. 


— do. 


2.00 




Cash 5. 


8.50 




27. 


Ch. 


3.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



297 



4. Sub council of the American Antiquarian Society 
met at my house. 

7. A. Whipple returned to Walpole. 

10. Went to Church twice. 

12. Court of Common Pleas. 

13. Mr. Mrs. & Miss Elizabeth Maccarty and Mrs. 
Seaver spent the Evening with us. 

16. Williams and Earle failed — all their property 
attached. 

17. Went to Church twice. 

18. Mrs. Thomas with Mrs. Bancroft went to West- 
boylston to see parson Nash & wife. Frazer unwell. 

19. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde spent the Evening. 

20. My son sat out on a journey to Burlington, Vermont. 
Requested as School Com ee . man to visit the Schools. 
Unwell & did not attend. 

21. Directors of Worcester Social Library met at my 
house. We issued a warrant for calling a new Meeting. 



Nov. 







Cash received. 








In the store, 


3.50 


27. 


In do.. 


3.00 




Mr. Burnside returned 




Sold Bill of Exchange 






money borrowed, 


50.00 




on Virginia, 


123.00 


13. 


In the Store, 


5.50 
Cash pa 


d away. 


Due bank this day, 


190.00 


5. 


My brother, 


5.00 


17. 


N. Patch's ace', for 






Paid Elias for work, 


3.55 




Cyder, 


12.34 




Ann L. Sheldon, 


5.00 




M r . Thomas, 


15.00 




Paid Johnson, 


10.00 




Interest pd. for Sim- 




6. 


Sent Frazer, 


5.00 




mons's Note, 


6.00 


7. 


Paid Bank 50 dols. 






Sundries, 


2.00 




Patch's expenses 1 




20. 


Elizabeth Bowditch, 


5.00 




dol., 


51.00 


22. 


Mrs. T. to go to Boston, 


20.00 


8. 


Sundries, family, 


2.00 




Pd. Johnson at twice, 


5.00 


10. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


2.00 


23. 


Paid Butcher, 


1.76 


11'. 


Frazer, 


1.00 




Sundries 1 dol r . Frazer 




14. 


Do. sundries (gratis), 


5.00 




1 dol'., 


2.00 




Sundries, several Occa 




28. 


My brother. 


3.00 




sions. 


5.00 




Sundries, 


2.00 


15. 


Airs. Thomas, 
Frazer, 


25.00 
6.56 


29. 


Paid Bank, for my son, 


30.5.00 



298 American Antiquarian Society. 

22. Attended with other Members of the Tanyard 
company to a settlement of some of its concerns — we 
supped together at Wheeler's tavern. 

23. Met again with the other proprietors of the tanyard, 
and agreed on a division of the real estate. I agreed to 
take the dwelling house and the lot of Land belonging to 
it at 1200 dollars. Mr. Lincoln jun r . & Mr. Maccarty take 
the tanyard and the extensive buildings on it at 2400 
dollars. D r . Paine takes the Bark Mill at 400 dollars. 
E. Flagg took leather equivalent. 

Nathan Patch, who has been with me three years as a 
farmer left me by agreement. He is going to reside in the 
State of Newyork where he has purchased land. — I intend 
quitting this business. 

24. Went to Church in the afternoon. 

25. The tanyard Company having divided the real 
estate Deeds were executed to each other. I took the 
dwelling house and lot. Maccarty and Lincoln and Myself 
had 1200 dols. each in real Estate. Dr. Paine 400 dols. 
and 800 in Leather. Enoch Flagg 1200 in leather as an 
equivalent. Spent the Evening at Judge Bangs. 

27. Miss Lynde & Judge Bangs spent the Evening 
with us. 

29. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde spent Even g . with us. 

30. A Stove, purchased by subscription, put up in 
the Church of the north parish — the first ever used in a 
Church in Worcester. Stove and funnels cost about 85 
dollars. 1 



•There was great opposition to the introduction of stoves into churches, partly 
no doubt, on account of the danger from fire, but principally because the old puri- 
tanical feeling still lingered in the minds of the majority of the people, that such 
comforts were inconsistent with the proper spirit for religious worship. Foot- 
stoves of perforated oak or tin, having iron pans to hold the coals, were used by 
the women, and it was a common sight to see boys or servants carrying them to 
the meeting-house. The first stove known to have been placed in a New England 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 299 

31. None of the family went to Church. 

January, 1816. 

1. Met with the Fire Club, this Evening at Sikes's Wor- 
cester Coffee house, where the Club supped. My Supper 
did not agree with nie. This was the annual meeting. 
First sledding this year. 

2. The Sub council of the American Antiquarian So- 
ciety met at my house this evening. 



church, was in Hadley, in 1734. Tn 17S3, the Old South Church, in Boston, had one, 
and there was one in Longmeadow, in 1810, and in Salem, in 1815. The churches 
had been built without thought, of such luxuries, and when they began to be intro- 
duced, the buildings had to be adapted to the purpose as well as might be. They 
were large and clumsy, and usually stood in the middle of the aisle, while the pipes 
projected through the nearest window. This caused great, discomfort from the 
dropping of soot and oil, and tin pails were sometimes hung from them to catch 
the drippings. 

At the annual meeting of the Second Parish, 18 March, 1811, consent was given 
to have a stove placed in the meeting-house, provided that it should be done with- 
out any expense to the parish, and without discommoding the owners of pews; 
and Nathan Heard, Levi Lincoln, Jr., and Enoch Flagg were appointed a committee 
to examine a suitable position for it. 

Nothing seems to have been done at the time however, as there is no entry in 
the parish records in regard to it, until the meeting 25 November, 1816, when it 
was voted that the assessors should provide fuel, and have suitable fires made, and 
that the parish should pay the rent of the pew in which the stove stood. 



Dec. 







Cash received. 






5. 


Store, 


2.00 


20. 


Turnpike dividend. 


95.00 


7. 


Do.. 


1.00 




Store, 


1.00 


13. 


Do., 


9.25 


28. 


Charles Blake's debt of 






Greenleaf's Note, 


62.70 




Burnside, 


38.00 


14. 


Store, 


1.16 










Cash pa 


d away. 






1. 


Frazer Cash for Silk, 


12.25 


18. 


Eggs .40 Frazer 2.50, 


2.90 




Flannel for my daughter. 


4.50 


20. 


Frazer, 


9.00 


3. 


Mending boots & Har- 






Mrs. Thomas, 


3.00 




ness, 


3.00 




Paid for flannel for 




4. 


Neat's foot oyl-2 quarts 


, 1.00 




Phoebe, 


2.34 


5. 


Boots repaired 1.00 Sun 




21. 


Sundries, 


1.00 




dries .50, 


1.50 




Dr. Bancroft — Mission- 




6. 


Sundries, 


2.00 




ary Society, 


2.00 


7. 


Do., 


2.50 


28. 


Paid Mr. Hamilton, 


2.34 


12. 


Nathan Patch, 


15.00 




Lent & gave away. 


6.00 




Lent Whittemore, 


10.00 


29. 


Sundries, 


0.75 


16. 


Paid Rice, 


2.00 


30. 


Horse bells, 


.82 



300 American Antiquarian Society. 

3. Chosen again a Director & Librarian of the Wor- 
cester Social Library Com y . 

5. Examined with the other Directors, the Worcester 
Social Library. 

6. Drew Scheme of a Lottery for the American Antiq 11 . 
Society. 1 

7. Did not go to Church. 

8. Spent the Evening with Mrs. Thomas at Mr. Mac- 
carty's. Unwell in the night. Had Cholic and asthma. 



*In October, 1814, Dr. William Paine, Samuel J. Prescott, Benjamin Russell, 
Rev. William Bentley and Edward Bangs had been appointed a committee of ways 
and means, to take into consideration the financial condition of the society, and 
to devise some plan for its support and for the erection of a building. In the exist- 
ing state of public opinion the idea of a lottery was the most natural suggestion to 
present itself. This means of increasing the funds of churches, colleges and public 
institutions was not only duly authorized by law, but was held to be unobjectionable. 
The prevalence of the lottery system can be attributed to two sources: the craze 
for speculation which swept over the country at the close of the eighteenth century, 
when money began to circulate more freely, and the demand for internal improve- 
ments which arose at the same period. No public building, road or bridge could 
be built without their aid. The newspapers of the day were filled with such alluring 
offers, headed by the figure of Fortune pouring streams of gold from a well-filled 
Cornucopia, or by lottery wheels turning out marvellous prizes, that the temptation 
was too strong to be resisted. Men risked their all in a wild scramble for wealth, 
which at last threatened so disastrous results to the financial condition of the country, 
that in 1833 lotteries were forbidden by law in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and 
New York. 

At the meeting of the Sub-Council, 6 June, 1815, Judge Bangs was appointed 
to draft a subscription paper for a lottery, to be presented to the members for their 
signatures; but he reported at the next meeting, that he found, upon investigation, 
that such a lottery would be illegal without a grant from the General Court. 

15 August, the Committee of Ways and Means notified Mr. Thomas that: — 

"They are fully convinced, that adequate Funds for the support of the institution, 
cannot at this Time be obtained, by Subscription. 

"They therefore beg leave, to recommend to the Society, to apply to the Govern 
ment of the United States, for a Lottery, or any other legislative aid, that they may 
see fit to grant us, and that a Committee be appointed, to prepare, and present, 
a Petition to Congress, early in the next Session, for that purpose." 

At the annual meeting, in October, this report was recommitted to the same com- 
mittee, with instructions to prepare and present to Congress and the General Court, 
a'petition asking "for such grants of lands or assistance to the Society as the Com- 
mittee may think best." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



301 



9. Not having much sleep last night went to bed this 
Evening at 9 °'Clock. Frazer unwell. 

10. Moses Thomas & Son dined with me. 
14. Went to Chh. in the afternoon. 



The original manuscript of the following draft, in the handwriting of Mr. Thomas, 
is in the possession of the society: — 

"SCHEME OF A LOTTERY FOR THE AMERICAN ANTIQ™. SOCIETY. 















Prizes. 
















1 


of 25000 dollars 
















1 


5000 do. 
















1 


4000 do. 
















1 


3000 do 
















2 


2000 do. 
















6 


1000 do. 
















6 




500 do. 
















18 




Tickets. 








1 of the 


price 


of 




4000 


dollars, entitled to 


16000 


Chances. 


1 of 










3000 


do. 


do. 


12000 


do. 


1 of 










2000 


do. 


do. 


8000 


do. 


5 of 










1000 


do. each entitled to 


4000 


do. 


10 of 










500 


do. 


do. 


2000 


do. 


15 of 










250 


do. 


do. 


1000 


do. 


20 of 










150 


do. 


do. 


600 


do. 


50 of 










100 


do. 


do. 


400 


do. 


100 of 










50 


do. 


do. 


200 


do. 


200 of 










25 


do. 


do. 


100 


do. 


500 of 










10 


do. 


do. 


40 


do. 


3000 of 










5 


do. 


do. 


20 


do. 


25000 of 










1 


do. 


do. 


4 


do. 


97000 of 


lb cents each 


or 


i 


do. 


do. 


1 


do. 



125903 

The Chances, not the Tickets will be numbered for drawing, and all the Numbers 
will be put into the wheel before the drawing commences. 

Every Chance will be entitled to the whole of the prize drawn against the number. 

A Ticket of the price of 25 Cents has one Chance and may draw the highest or 
one of the other prizes. 

Every Ticket, the price of which exceeds 25 cents, will have as many chances as 
there are quarters of a dollar in the price of the ticket: i. e. A ticket of the price 
of one dollar will have four Chances — a ticket of the price of five dollars will have 
twenty Chances — and so on. — 

The numbering of the Chances will begin on the Ticket of the highest price, viz. 
that of 4000 dollars, and will embrace 16000 numbers or chances, beginning with 
No. 1., and ending with No. 16000. — The numbering will be continued on the ticket 
bearing the next highest prize, viz. that of 3000 dollars; the numbers on this ticket 
will begin with No. 16001, <and end with No. 28,000; and in this manner will the 
numbering of the chances be continued through the whole of the tickets. 



302 American Antiquarian Society. 

15 Judge Bangs A: Miss Lynde spent the Evening 
with us. 

16. Attended the annual meeting of the Morning Star 
lodge this Evening by request of the Lodge and installed 
the new master. .Mrs. Thomas unwell. 

18. "Warm ►South wind, which carried off the Snow re- 
markably fast, and caused a great rise of water. Some 
mill damns carried away — the brook rose more than a foot 
over the tanyard — wet much leather in the Warehouse, and 
caused 8 hogsheads of lime to burst. 

21. Went to Church twice. 

22. Spent the Evening with Mrs. T. at Judge 
Bangs's. 

25. Miss Lynde & Judge Bangs visit and Dr. Bancroft. 
28. Went to- Church twice. 



As no Blanks will be put into the Wheels, every number which is drawn must be 
a prize— therefore as the highest priced tickets have a number of Chances propor- 
tionable to their prizes, they may each in that proportion draw several or even all 
of the prizes. 

This scheme is calculated for a Lottery the Tickets for which will amount to 110,000 
dollars. Four Chances to a dollar — 60,000 dollars to be drawn in prizes — 30,000 for 
the benefit of the Institution, — and 10,000 allowed for managing the Lottery — ex- 
penses attending the selling and drawing — Losses, etc. 

One Class Only is Proposed. 

The Possessors of the highest priced Tickets may divide and sub-divide them at 
pleasure, and part with any number of the Chances which they contain designating 
their numbers. " 

Early in January, 1816, the plan of the Lottery was decided upon. Levi Lincoln 
Jr., assisted by Mr. Thomas, supported the petition, which after a long debate was 
refused a third reading in the House, the vote standing 58 to 53. A motion to 
reconsider the vote, and to refer the subject to the next session, was then passed 
by a vote of 75 to 21. Francis Blake was added to the committee, which immedi- 
ately renewed its efforts to secure passage of the bill; but on its presentation, in 
June, it was recommitted. 

In May, 1821, the project was again revived by the Sub-Council, which appointed 
Mr. Lincoln and Edward D. Bangs to take the necessary steps towards obtaining 
a grant for a "Literary Lottery," and to report at the semi-annual meeting, in June. 
The records of the society, however, do not show that such a report was submitted, 
or that any further action was taken. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



303 



29. Engaged 200,000 Bricks to be made. 

30. Mrs. Ewers died in Boston — Sister to my Brother's 
wife, and cousin to Mrs. Thomas. 

31. Went to the funeral of Mr. Bush Johnston. 



February, 1816. 

2. Mrs. Ewers buried. 

3. Johnston unwell — had a physician — got Patch to be 
with us a few days. 

4. Went to Church twice. 

5. Johnston continues unwell. Sub Council of the 
American Antiq". Society met at my house this Even g . 
also Hon. M r . Blake & Hon. M l . Lincoln members. 

6. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit. Judge Bangs, Miss 
Lynde, &c. spent the Evening with us. 

7. Went to Boston with Hon. Levi Lincoln jun 1 . in 
the Mail Stage, to support the Petition of the Am. Antiq". 
Society for a Lottery. 

9. Attended Gen. Court. Was favoured with a seat. 



Jan*. 



In the Store, 
Do. 



Cash received. 
7.00 I 24. 

1.00 
Cash paid away. 



Janr. 1. Club at Sikes', Fire Club, 1.72 

Frazer — Cash, 1.75 

4. Sundries, 1.20 

Subscription for Stove in 

the meeting house 7.00 

6. Wood— 7 feet, 2.00 

Whitewashing Cellar for 

Milk, 0.50 

9. Paid for Wood, 7.00 

Post office last quarter 

bill, 11.00 

Paid David Brown, 21.50 

Paid M r . Sumner for 

my son, 125.00 

Paid for Wood, 7.75 

Do. do., 2.62 

Paid Elias Toney. 0.62i 



lu. 



11. 



13. 



15. 



16. 
17. 
18. 
20. 
24. 



30. 



Rent from Boston, 200.00 

From S°. Carolina, 50.00 

Paid do., 0.62 

Beef, 1.00 

Paid Elias Toney, 1.00 

Do. do., 1.44 

Do. Mr. Sumner for my 

son, 300.00 

Oil — Frazer, 0.57 

Paid Toney, 0.50 

To Dan 1 . Benson for Wm. 

Sheldon, 75.00 

Greenleaf & Wheeler, 3.25 

Mr. Francis for Mr. Shel- 
don, by order, 55.00 
Cloth for Small Clothes, 4.50 
Paid Caleb Burba nk 

for my son 400.00 



304 American Antiquarian Society. 

10. Attended General Court. Had a seat. 

11. Returned to Worcester with M 1 . Lincoln in the 
mail Stage. The prayer of our petition not granted but 
referred over to the next Session of the General Court. 

12. Judge Bangs and Rev. Dr. Bancroft spent the 
Evening. 

13. Unwell. Mrs. Seaver ended her Visit. 

15. A fire broke out between four and five "'Clock this 
morning about one mile N. E. from the Court house which 
consumed 1 dwelling house, 1 store, 1 large work shop, 1 
barn, 1 cow, and 1 hog. 1 Spent the evening with 
Judge Bangs. Inflamation in my eyes— bad cold in my 
head. 

16. My seeing Eye much inflamed, cannot read. Feel 
very unwell. Mrs. T. visited at Joseph Trumbull's. 

17. Kept Chamber all day. 

18. Kept Chamber this day also. Since yesterday fore- 
noon have taken four doses of Jalap, without any operation. 
My seeing Eye very much inflamed for 3 days past — it has 
been considerably inflamed for the last 10 days. 

20. Our women rode out. Judge Bangs spent the after- 
noon with me. 

21. Took physic and kept Chamber. Rev. Dr. Ban- 
croft spent the Evening with me. 

22. Went below stairs and continued all day. Am better 
in health. 

23. Rode out. 

24. Rode in the forenoon. 

25. Did not go to Church. 



'These buildings comprised the house, wheelwright's shop and barn of Nathaniel 
Flagg, 2d., and the store of Jonathan Knight, on the present Burncoat street, between 
Brit tan and Adams squares. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



305 



26. Sent Johnson to Charlton to get some money — Turn- 
pike dividend for a debt recovered. Judge Bangs & Miss 
Lynde spent the Evening with us. 

27. Rode out with Judge Paine. 



March, 1816. 

1. Mr. Soper went on to Albany. 

2. General Spurr 1 of Charlton committed Suicide by 



'John Spurr, the son of Thomas Spurr, Jr., and Mary Redman Spurr, was born 
in Canton, then a part of Stoughton, Mass., in 1759. In 1773, at the age of fourteen, 
he took part in the Boston Tea Party. 19 April, 1775, he was enrolled as a corporal 
in the Stoughton company, and his name appears on the rolls as a private, during 
eight months' service in the siege of Boston. From January, 1777 to December, 
1779 he was a captain in Colonel Thomas Nixon's regiment, and in the following 
year he was promoted to the rank of major. After the war he removed to Charlton, 
with several others, to take possession of a tract of land of three thousand acres, 
which had been confiscated by the state. He represented Charlton in the General 
Court for several terms, and was for many years a major-general of militia. 

General Spurr married, in 1783, Mercy, daughter of Elijah Dunbar, of Canton. 







Cash received. 






Feb*. 2. 


Ballance at Bank, 


3.00 




Store at twice. 


2.50 


8. 


Sheldon's draft, 


300.00 


22. 


Borrowed of Mrs. 




10. 


Newbury Street house 






Thomas, 


20.00 




Rent, 


77.25 


24. 


Do. of Mr. Bangs, 


10.00 


21. 


Worcester bank, bor- 




26. 


Dividend Stafford 






rowed from 


175.00 
Cash pai 


d away. 


Turnpike, 


115.00 


2 


Bank, 


115.00 


15. 


A. S., 


8.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 


20. 


Paid N. Maccarty for my 




3. 


Elias at 3 times, 


2.00 




son, Cash, 


63.00 


5. 


Wood, 


1.75. 




Sundries for family, 


1.25 


6. 


Do., 


2.34 




Pd. Flagg for wood. 


4.67 




Johnson, 


10.00 


21. 


Pd. Knowles for wood, 


1.55 




Wood, 


1.54 




Paid N. Patch, 


26.38 




Expenses, Theatre 5, 




22. 


Paid N. Patch, 25.25, 






Sundries, 1.67 


6.67 




Wood, 1.75, 


27.00 




Cyclopedias, 2 


10.00 


23. 


Paid for wood. 


2.18 




Lincoin, 


9.00 


27. 


National Tax, 47.33, 




10. 


Mary B., 

Passages & other Ex- 


15.00 




Carriages 7, 
Pd. Judge Bangs, which 


54.33 




penses to & in Boston, 7.85 




I borrowed, 


10.00 




Children, barber, etc., 


2.75 




Mrs. Thomas, 11 dols. 




13. 


Sikes passages, 


3.12} 




and 20 I borrowed of 




14. 


Paid for Wood, 


21.00 




her, 


31.C0 




Paid Earles Ex'n for 






Frazei 


5.00 




Isaiah, 


117.50 


29. 


Lent M r . Burnside ten dollars. 



20 



:!()('» American Antiquarian Society. 

hanging himself. Two prisoners broke Gaol bill were 
soon retaken. Rev. Peter Whitney of Northborough died 
yesterday very suddenly. Hon. Judge Brigham, Member of 
Congress for this district died at Washington last week 
with the Croup after two days' illness. Agreed with John- 
son to stay with me till October at 15 dollars per month, 
beginning first of April. 

3. None of the family went to meeting. Mrs. T. dis- 
composed all the family. 

5. Moses Thomas visited and staid over night. 

6. Lieut.. Armstrong from Detroit called to see us on 
his way home to Boston. 

"7. Spent the Evening at Judge Bangs's. 

10. Mrs. Seaver. I did not go to Church as T was unwell. 
Took Physic. Mrs. Seaver & Mrs. Putnam dined. 

11. Continue unwell. 

13. Rev. M 1 . Nash and wife came from Westboylston 
and spent the day with us. Rev. Dr. Bancroft and wife 
visited us in the afternoon. 

15. Spent the Evening with Judge Bangs, as did 
Mrs. T. 

1G. Let the house that Webb lives in to Mr. Kimberly 
for 120 Dolls, per annum exclusive of the Shop which 
Webb occupies: — If Webb continues in the shop he is to 
have it at 40 dollars for one year, — or for 45 dols. 

17. Went to Church in the afternoon. 

18. Mr. Soper returned from Albany. 

19. Johnston went abroad with his fiddle. 

21. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster in a Sleigh, took 
Phebe the Chambermaid with her. .Johnston drove the 
sleigh. Masons, Carpenter & Painter began to do some 
jobs mi the house Webb lives in. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



307 



22. Mrs. Thomas etc., returned from Lancaster. 

24. Went to Church twice. 

25. Spent the Even 8 , at Judge Bangs's. 

26. Finished repairing inside of the Webb house. At- 
tended to the Tanyard business. Bought Wheelbarrow, 5 
Chairs and Pitchfork at the Tanyard. Painted the Kitchen. 

27. One of our Women, cut both of her hands badly by 
the breaking of a bottle which she was cleaning. 

28. Bristol Green bottled Cyder. 

30. Met with the Proprietors of the Tanyard — divided 
Leather of various kinds — my share amounts to 1020 dollars. 

31. No meeting at D 1 . Bancroft's Society. — He went to 
Northboro' to supply the Pulpit there. 



April, 1816. 

1. Went to Town Meeting. 
Coachman. 



Partly engaged another 



2. This day fully engaged him — his name is Bragg — he 
lately lived with M'. Salisbury. Joel Lawrence came up 
from Boston. Cloudy. Grew cold. Hard frost. 







Cash received. 






March 2. 


Cash from my son, 


63.00 


18. 


For a pair of Oxen, 


76.30 


6. 


In the store, 


.40 


22. 


Store, 


2.00 


13 


Store, 


3.00 


23. 


C. White— his Note, 


25.00 


10. 


Rent of Darby, 


40.00 


25. 


IN mi of Webb in part, 


15.00 




Casta paid 


away 






March 1 . 


Elias sundry times for 






Sundries family, 


2.00 




sawing Wood, 


17.20 


23. 


Paid Wellington, 


4.30 


2. 


Cash paid .Johnson, 


10.00 




Mis. Thomas, 


20.00 




Paid J. Allen, Esq r ., 




24. 


Paid Robertson, Oyl <fc 






for my son, 


48.48 




paint, 


3.00 


4. 


Paid Gleason for Wood 


34.29 


25. 


Glass, 


0.75 


7. 


Paid Rice for Wood, 


4.37 




Paper Hangings, 


3.12i 


10. 


Joel Gleason, for Wood, 


8.17 




Sundries family, 


1.00 




Nicholas Johnson, 


1.50 




Wellington for Wood, 


4.30 


13. 


Mrs. T., 


10.00 


28. 


Mi. I homae, 


1.00 


14. 


Frazer, 


1.00 




Sundries, 


1.00 


17. 


Church for Wood, 


9.34 




National Tax for my 




18. 


Paid Bank, 


8.00 




I [ouses in Boston, 


56.46 


22. 


Paid Knower, 


.50 









308 American Antiquarian Society. 

3. Drawn for the first time to serve as a Grand Juror. 
Repurchased the House I sold to Jonah Perry — 600 
dollars. 

4. Annual Fast. Went to Chh. twice. Lawrence 
returned to Boston. Meeting house burnt by lightning on 
the 1 st of this month. 

5. Sub council of the American Antiq". Society met at 
my house. 

6. Engaged Elias Toney to work who asks one dollar 
per day and to be found dinners only. 

7. Bragg came this Evening to live with me as a Coach- 
man, his wages begin to-morrow, at 15 dollars per month. 

9. Johnson our late Coachman left us this morning — 
dismissed by agreement. 

Attended the Supreme Court as a Grand Juror — was 
unanimously chosen Foreman by my fellows. Judge Put- 
nam 1 presided and gave the Charge — Dr. Bancroft prayed. 

10. Attended Grand Jury of Supreme Court. Lawrence 
passed thro' town, with a carriage and passengers. 

11. Mrs. Thomas sat off for Boston in the Coachee; 
took Bowditch our Cook, who we have dismissed, with her; 
and our new Coachman Bragg. 

Grand Jury, finished their business, and were dismissed — 
presented me, in a very handsome manner, their thanks 
for my services as Foreman. 14 Indictments. The Jury 



'Samuel Putnam, the son of Gideon and Hannah Browne Putnam of Danvers, 
Mass., was graduated from Harvard in 1787, studied law with Theophilus Parsons, 
and settled in Salem in 1790. He was senator from Essex in 1808, 1809, 1813 and 
1814, and a member of the House in 1812. When, in 1814, Judge Isaac Parker 
was made chief justice, on the death of Chief Justice Sewall, he was appointed to 
fill the vacancy thus made on the Supreme Bench, and retained the position until 
his resignation in 1842. He received the degree of LL. D. from Harvard, in 1825. 
Judge Putnam married, 2S October, 1795, Sarah, daughter of John and Lois Pick- 
ering Gooll. 

[Horn, Danvers, Mass., 13 April, 1768. Died, Somerville, Mass., 3 July, 1853.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 309 

were attended by Perez Morton, 1 Esq. Attorney-General. 
This is the first time he attended the S. J. C. in this part of 
the Commonwealth, alt ho' he has been in that office several 
years. The Sollicitor Gen. has in this section of the country, 
during that time officiated. This day Knower began to 
repaint the parlor. Fair & Cold morning. Snow in the 
Evening 6 inches deep — then rain. 

13. Knower finished painting the Parlor and best Re- 
serve. 3 days work. 

14. Went to Church twice. 

15. Judge Putnam, and the Atty. General Morton, 
and the Sollicitor Gen 1 . Davis, visited me this Even 8 . 

16. The Supreme Court, Several Gentlemen of the Bar, 
the High Sheriff, and other Gentlemen dined with me. Mrs. 
Thomas in Boston. Fair. Cold. Grew cloudy. Some 
snow. 

17. Knower began to paint the north front room. Very 
Cold for the season. Hard frost. 



'Perez Morton, a native of Plymouth, Mass., removed to Boston in 1760, with his 
father, Joseph Morton, who was for many years the keeper of the White Horse Tavern, 
on Newbury (Washington) street. He entered the Boston Latin School, and was 
graduated from Harvard in 1771. He then studied law, but after his admission 
to the bar in July, 1774, the outbreak of the Revolution, in which he took an active 
part, prevented him from practising at that time. In 1775 he was Deputy Secretary of 
State and a member of the Committee of Safety. In the following year he was 
brought into notice by his funeral oration, delivered in King's Chapel, over the 
remains of General Joseph Warren, which had been found on the heights of Charles- 
town after the evacuation of Boston by the British, and were buried with military 
honors in the Granary burying ground. In 1777 he was lieutenant in General Sulli- 
van's expedition to Rhode Island. At the close of the war he opened an office in his 
house on State street, where the Union Bank now stands, and became prominent in 
political and professional life. He was speaker of the House of Representatives 
from 1806 to 1811; a member of the convention for the revision of the state constitu- 
tion in 1820; and attorney-general of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1832. He was a 
strong democrat in his views, and was the leader of the Constitutional Society, 
otherwise known as the Jacobin Club, formed by the enthusiastic friends of the 
French Revolution in 1792, which held its meetings at the Green Dragon Tavern. 

Mr. Morton married, in 1778, Sarah Wentworth Apthorp of Quincy. 

[Born, Plymouth, 13 November, 1751. Died, Dorchester. 14 October, 1837.] 



310 American Antiquarian Society. 

18. Finished painting N°. front room & painted 
South Entry room. White-washed Kitchen overhead. Very 
cold. Hard frost. Some Snow. 

19. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston by way f of 
Lancaster. My brother's wife came with her, and a woman 
by the name of Farnsworth to live with us to do kitchen work. 

20. Dined with the Hon. Francis Blake, in Company 
with Judge Putnam of the Supreme Court and other Gen- 
tlemen. 

Mr. Alison, Printer, and a Quaker, of Burlington, New- 
jersey, breakfasted with me. 

21. Went to Church twice. Began Work in Garden. 

22. Rented the house and Land in Paxton to Tyler 
Goddard from this day to the first day of April next — he 
to pay all taxes — Rent 50 dollars. 

23. Bought a pair of Oxen of Williams — price 85 dollars. 
M 1 . Whipple arrived from Walpole, N. H. 

24. M r . Whipple took the Store. Miss Lynde and Judge 
Bangs visit. 

25. Gardening. Spent the Even 8 , at Judge Bangs's. 

26. My brother's wife returned home. Frazer went with 
her in the Coach. 

27. Frazer returned from Lancaster. A dog which 
followed our Carriage last week from Boston, followed the 
Carriage yesterday to Lancaster and on the road killed a 
young Lamb — the dog was therefore killed. 

28. Went to Church twice. 

29. Began to erect new fence back of the 3-story house. 

Bounds of the land between me and Mrs. Duncan whose 
land is now occupied by Dr. Fiske. 

I own and claim three feet south of my 3 story house — 
Several disputes have arisen between Mrs. Duncan and 



Diary of Isaiah* Thomas. ' 311 

myself relative to this bound. — D r . Fiske some years since 
removed the Cellar Wall of my house, and I rebuilt it 
with Brick, to please him as the rough Wall was not so 
agreeable to him; and I have this day consented to set 
the fence between him and me, farther to the north than it 
should be, but I do not give up my claim to the Land South 
— I shall be more particular in some other place than what 
is here written. 

Rents begin in April. 

2 houses Centre Court Boston each 500 dols. 
Newbury Street do house 260 dols. 

May 7, 1816 Shop 150 April 16, 1816. 

House back Court house, Worcester 120 dols. 

do on (he Common and Land 120 

Tanyard land 80 

3 Story House 160 
Printing house 60 
Levi house 30 
Bookstore Worcester 

do in Walpole. 
Paper Mill Alstead. 

May, 1816. 

1. Spent the Evening with Judge Bangs. 

2. Remarkable Spot on the sun visible to the naked 
eye, being hazy. 

3. Drafted a Statement to lay before the town respect- 
ing the bridge business. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde 
— Even g . visit. 

4. Old Com ee . on the Bridge business wrote and signed 
a Certificate in my favour — visited them at their houses for 
this purpose. Cold. 

5. Went to Church twice. 

6. Attended Town meeting. My statement to the 
town respecting the bridge was presented — but not acted 
on, the meeting adjourned to this day fortnight. 



312 



American Antiquarian Society. 



7. Spent the Even g . with Mrs. T. at M r . Maccarty's. 
Fair. Grew cold and a very high wind. 

8. Sub Council of the A. A. So y . met at my house. The 
son 1 and daughter of my nephew Moses Thomas of Sterling 
and the oldest daughter of my Niece Mrs. Parker, visited 
us, they tarried all night. 

9. My nephew's Children returned home. Mrs. 
Parker's daughter went this Morning to live with M 1 . 



'Moses George Thomas, the son of Moses and Rebecca Whiting Thomas, was gradu- 
ated from Brown in 1825, and from the Harvard Divinity School in 1828. He was 
ordained a Unitarian minister in 1829; was settled in Concord, N. H., from 1839 
to 1845; in South Boston from 1845 to 1848; and in New Bedford from 1848 to 1871. 
[Born, Sterling, Mass. 19 January, 1805. Died, Concord, N. H., 18 September, 1880 1 







Cash received. 






4. 


Interest from the Peirces, 


50.40 


19. 


Rent 2 quarters from 




5. 


Interest from D r . Ban- 






Boston, 


225.00 




croft, 


44.77 


23. 


Rent of Mrs. Fenno, 






Worcester Bank, divi- 






1 quarter, 


17.50 




dend, 


450.00 


27. 


Lazell's Note, 


55.72 


11. 


Fees as a Grand Juror, 


3.75 




Webb's Rent, 


85.00 


14. 


Rent of Mrs. Mower, 1 
year, 


47.50 

Cash pa 


d away. 






April 1 


Paid Mr. Mann, Note, 


78.00 




Sundries, Family, Gin, 


3.55 




Mending Harness, Tucker, 


2.50 


16. 


Sufferers by Fire, 


12.00 




Fire Society Club at Sikes's 


.70 




Sundries, family, 3.00, 




3. 


Paid Jonah Perry, 


30.00 




Knower 25 cts., 


3.25 


5. 


Paid Putnam, 


3.00 


18. 


Paid for Wood, 1 1 .00 






Pd. Thaxter for 1 barrel 






Paid Perry 4.00 


15.00 




of Cyder to bottle, 


2.50 




Family, Meat and sun- 






Mrs. Thomas bank divi- 






dries, 


2.50 




dend, 


24.00 


19. 


Paid Earle, 


5.00 




Paid Mrs. T. (borrowed) 


10.00 




Sundries, family, 


0.34 




Gave Mrs. T. 


110.00 


20. 


Paid Toney, 


1.00 




Miss Weld dividend, 


15.00 




Paid Knower, 


3.25 




Miss Armstrong, divi- 






Ticket, 


5.50 




dend, 


24.00 


22. 


Paid Bank, 


51.25 




Recording Deeds, and for 




26. 


Frazer, for Expenses to 






a Lease 


2.20 




Lancaster, 


3.00 


9 


Cash paid Sikes, on Ac- 






My brother & wife, 


6.00 




count of the Grand Jury, 1.25 




Sundries, family, 


3.00 


10 


Paid Elizabeth Bowditch 






Paid towards Shingles, 


3.00 




our Cook, 


23.00 


27. 


Paid for a live pig, 






Paid Johnson at twice, 


15.50 




weight 150 lbs., 


13.50 


11 


. Cash paid Sikes, for Grand 


29. 


Paid Webbs account, 


65.00 




Jury, 


1.40 




License to sell English 




12 


. Paid Johnson, 


7.00 




printed books, 


15.00 


13 


. Paid L. Burbank for I. T 






Paid Mrs. Thomas, 


25.00 




& Co., 


33.00 


30. 


Miss Miller, lent, 


2.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 313 

Kimberly. Mrs. Thomas spent the Even 8 , at M r . 
Trumbull's. 

12. Went to Church once. Miss Lynde and Judge 
Bangs and family spent the Evening with us. 

14. Mr. Whipple went in the Stage for Albany. Rain. 
Some snow. Hard Frost. 

15. Dismissed our Chamber Maid, a woman from Lan- 
caster, by the name of Farnsworth. She has been with us 
not a month. Spent the Even g . at Judge Bangs 's. Cold 
for the Season. White Frost. 

16. Finished sowing and planting Garden. 

17. Lawrence came to see his wife our strange behaved 
Housekeeper. — She now inclines to go and live with him, 
and went with him this day to Boston. At her departure, 
however, she appeared greatly troubled, and left us appar- 
ently with very great reluctance, and in the bitterness of 
Grief. Fair. Very cold for the Season. Hard Frost. 

19. Went to Church twice. Weather more mild and 
pleasant. 

20. Mrs. Frazer, alias Lawrence our housekeeper, re- 
turned from Boston in the Stage. Mr. Anson Whipple 
returned from Albany. Town chose a Committee to exam- 
ine and report my statement respecting the great Bridge, 
which I had built for the town 3 years ago. Let the land, 
about 16 acres, lately owned by my son, and which formerly 
belonged to Pierce for 12 dollars till April next to Mr. Rice. 

21. My Niece, Mrs. Parker from Harvard, visited us. 

23. My niece, Mrs. Parker returned to her Home in 
Harvard. 

26. Went to Church twice. 

27. Judge Bangs, his sister & family spent the after- 
noon and Evening with us. 

28. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas. 



314 



American Antiquarian Society. 



29. Election. A few of us met this afternoon at Sikes's. 
Spent the evening at Judge Bangs's. Fair. Very Cold for 

the season. 

30. Judge Bangs it family spent the Even 8 , with us. 

31. Went this morning for Boston in the Coachee with 
Bragg the Coachman — arrived there at 5 °'Clock in the 
afternoon and lodged at my Sons. 

My tax for Minister, this year is Seventy two dollars, viz. 
36 dols. parish tax and 36 dols. pew tax. 



June, 1816. 

1. Went to Jamaica Plains and drank tea at M r . John 
Andrews's — my Grand daughter Hannah went with me. 
Fair, Very warm — dusty travelling. 

2. Went twice to Chh. at the Stone Chapel. Fair. 
Cold E. wind. Fire very comfortable. 

3. Artillery Election. W T ent in the procession to hear 
the Sermon — from thence with the ancient and hon. Artill- 
ery Co y . to Faneuil Hall to dine by Invitation from the 
Company. Governor & Council, etc. etc., a large Company 
present. Afterwards went to the Council Chamber — was 



May 13. 







Cash received. 






3. 


Rent of Newbury Street 










house. 


50.00 












Cash paid away. 






1. 


Wilson towards bricks 


110.00 


13. 


Cash paid Williams for 






Phebe Franklin, 


2.60 




Hay, 


8.00 


3. 


Family, 


2.00 


16. 


Cash pd. Toney, 


4.10 


4. 


Toney, 


0.50 




For Butter, 


2.53 


8. 


Paid Reed towards 




17. 


Hank, 


106.75 




Shingles, 


20.00 




Frazer, 


24.00 


9. 


Paid Toney towards 




18. 


Flour, 


19.00 




emptying the privy 


n 


21. 


Postage, last Quarter, 


7.32 




the printing house 




Lincoln and Fearings ace' 


5.58 




yard, 


6.00 


22. 


Mrs. Parker, 


3.00 


0. 


Paid State, Town and 




27. 


Minister's Tax, 


36.00 




County Tax 


124.66 


28. 


Paid Williams towards 






Frazer and Family, 


2 20 




Plaster, 


2.00 


1. 


Toney, 
Postage, 


10.00 
0.34 


29. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


15.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 315 

introduced to the Governor 1 by Gen. Winslow, — to the Lieut. 
Governor 2 , etc., and was honourably but unexpectedly noticed. 
Went in the procession to see the usual Ceremonies on the 
Common. — -A very great assemblage of people of all ranks. 

4. Left the Coach in town to be painted. Sent Bragg home 
with the Horses. Cloudy. Cold N.E. wind. Fire very agreeable. 

5. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. Went to the Theatre. 
Cloudy morning. Cleared away and became very warm. 
Heavy Showers in the afternoon, with Thunder. 

6. Mrs. Frazer, alias Lawrence came to town this after- 
noon. Appeared to be much agitated. She arrived late. 

7. Frazer called on me very early this morning. Went 
away to get breakfast — then returned — Went to see her 
husband — got 2 trunks of her clothes. Fair. Very cold. 
Fires as agreeable as in Winter. Frost. 



! John Brooks, the son of Caleb and Ruth Albree Brooks, was apprenticed at the 
age of fourteen, to Dr. Simon Tufts, of Medford, Mass., where he was a fellow student 
of Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford, with whom he formed an inti- 
mate friendship, which lasted until the latter's death. He began to practise in 
Reading, Mass., but the preliminary movements of the Revolution occupied the 
greater part of his time, and 19 April, 1775, he marched to Lexington at the head of 
a company which had been trained by himself. Immediately he received a major's 
commission; was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the eighth Massachusetts regiment, 
in 1777; was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1778; and acted as adjutant-general 
at the battle of Monmouth. After the army was disbanded he resumed his profes- 
sional duties in Medford, but did not retire from public life. He was a member of 
the state convention for the ratification of the federal constitution in 1788; and served 
successively as a representative to the General Court, as a member of the State 
Senate and of the Council. In 1795 he was appointed by Washington, United States 
Marshal and Inspector of the Revenues. He was for many years a major general 
of militia for his county, and from 1812 to 1815, was Adjutant General of Massa- 
chusetts. In 1816 he was elected Governor of Massachusetts, and held that office 
for seven consecutive terms, until, in 1823, he declined to be again a candidate. 

Governor Brooks was an overseer of Harvard from 1815 to 1818, and received 
from it the degree of A. M., in 1787, and of LL. D. in 1817. He was also the presi- 
dent of the Massachusetts Medical Society from 1817, to the time of his death; of 
the Society of the Cincinnati from 1787; and of the Massachusetts Bible Society. 

He married in 1774, Lucy Smith of Reading. 

[Born, Medford, Mass., 31 May, 1752. Died, Medford, 1 March. 1825.] 

-William Phillips, of Boston. 



316 American Antiquarian Society. 

8. Frazer went at 2 ° 'Clock this morning in the Stage 
for Worcester. Not well. Cloudy. Wind strong at W. 
Very cold. Fires and Clokes used as in winter. Snow in 
several places. 

9. Not well — Did not go to Church — Dined with Mr. 
E. T. Andrews. — Fair. Cold continues. Severe Frost, 
which destroyed Vines, etc. 

10. Attended this and 2 or 3 days past on the petition 
to the Legislature of the A. A. S°. — Attended the Grand 
Lodge by particular request. 

11. Went in the Mail Stage to Worcester. Left my 
Surtout, etc., at the Stage house, Boston. 

12. The 6 last days have been very cold — Snow and 
several Frosts which have done much damage. There have 
been but 2 or 3 days since last autumn but fires in the parlor 
were necessary. Clokes have been nearly as much used 
all this month, so far, as in Winter. 

13. Judge Bangs & family spent the Evening with 
us. Hazy. Warm. 

14. Wm. G. Goddard from Providence. Showers. Mod- 
erate. 

16. Did not go to Church. Cloudy morning. Cold for 
the season. 

18. Fires continue to be regularly made in our parlors. 
Antiq". Sub Council met at my house — it was stormy and 
they adjourned. 

Many Farmers had to replant Corn — Squashes and Beans 
generally destroyed by frost, and are now replanting. 

19. Moses Thomas dined with us. Had a visit from 
the Rev. D r . Prince 1 of Salem. Fair. — Warm. 

23. Lawrence came to town last Evening — going with 
a carriage to Newyork — he came to see his wife (Frazer) 



'Rev. John Prince, minister of the First Church in Salem, from 1779 to his death 
in 1836. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



317 



several times this day — dined with our domesticks — Wife 
uneasy, but not so much as usual. Went to Chh. twice. 

24. Lawrence went on to Newyork or rather to Newhaven . 

28. Attended the Town's Committee at Hathaway's 
respecting my demand for money paid for the Bridge 3 
years since. 

29. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas, Miss Lynde, and 
Judge Bangs. Lawrence returned from Newhaven, called 
to see Frazer, and went on. 

30. W T ent to Church twice. Bragg went to Boston for 
the Carriage. 

July, 1816. 

1. Bragg returned from Boston with the Carriage. 
My granddaughters Mary & Frances and Win. T. Andrews, 
came in the Carriage. Began to shingle the House I live 
in. Attended fire Club. 

3. Mary Parker left Kimberly and came to stay with 
us a short time. 

4. Met with the federalists — went in the procession 
to hear the oration delivered by M 1 . Davis 1 — a handsome 



'John Davis, the son of Isaac and Anna Brigham Davis, spent his early years upon 
his father's farm, in Northborough, Mass., until, at the age of nineteen, he had found 
time to fit himself for Leicester Academy, where he completed his preparation for 
college. He was graduated from Yale, with honors, in 1812, studied law with Francis 



June 



June 1. 



10. 



Cash received. 






Loan Office, Government 






Mr. Andrews, — Bailey's 




Notes, 24.30 






Action, 


31.18 


State Bank dividend 50.00 






Of Newbury St. house 




Union do., 8.00 






rent , 


22.00 


Cash paid 


away. 






Paid Bragg, 18.00 






Expenses to and from 




Mary, 25.00 






Boston, 


6.50 


Oyl Cloth 5, Knives and 






Anne L. Sheldon, 


12.00 


forks 6, 11.00 




21. 


Mrs. T. for Phebe 3.00, 




Calender & Jenkins, 40.00 






Pork .75, 


3.75 


Frazer from Whipple 4, 






Perry, 


1.00 


Boston 2.70, 6.70 






Mrs. Thomas, 


1.00 


Theatre 2, Mat. 1.50 3.50 




30. 


Bragg, 


5.00 


Sundries, 8.60 






M. B. 


100.00 



318 American Antiquarian Society. 

oration — good band of Musick — all dined at Hathaway's — 
paid 2 dols. for dinner, and 4 dollars towards deficiences. 

6. Took physick. 

7. Did not go to Church. 

10. Went in the Coach, with my Niece's two daughters, 
to Sterling, Harvard, & Lancaster. 

11. Returned from my brother's etc., with his Grand 
daughter Mary. 

12. Mary Parker went to live with Miss Waters. Shin- 
gled the Old Goal House. 



Blake, in Worcester, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney, in 1815. He 
settled in Spencer, but in May, 1816, again became associated with Mr. Blake, and 
when the latter became Clerk of the Courts, a few months later, he succeeded to the 
practice of the office. His early success at the bar is shown by the fact that, in the 
first ten years of his professional life, he not only retained Mr. Blake's large clientage, 
but materially increased it; and when Governor Lincoln was appointed to the Supreme 
Bench, in 1825, he was the acknowledged leader of the county bar, and had few 
superiors as an advocate in Massachusetts. He was in partnership with Governor 
Lincoln in 1824 and 1825; with Charles Allen from 1825 to 1831; and with Emory 
Washburn from that time, until his retirement from active practice, in 1834. 

Governor Davis's reputation, however, rests rather on his qualities as a statesman, 
than as a lawyer. His political life began with his candidacy for Congress from the 
Worcester South District, on the Adams ticket, in 1824. Unknown in politics, 
four trials were necessary to secure his election, but he was returned for the three 
succeeding terms with practically no opposition. When he entered Congress, the 
question of protection to American industries, which had been attracting much atten- 
tion, was just beginning to assume a decided character. His warm support of its 
principles soon brought, him into prominence, and it was in a great measure due to 
his efforts, that the system was finally perfected. His speech in reply to Mr. McDuffie 
of South Carolina, the leader of the opposition, in 1S32, was regarded as the must 
powerful argument in its favor; and his answer to Mr. Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, 
on the same subject, in the Senate, in 1840, was said to have had more influence 
among the masses, than any document which was issued in the exciting presidential 
campaign of that year. 

In 1833, the Antimasonic party, then at the height of its power in the state, nomi- 
nated John Quincy Adams for Governor. Governor Lincoln declined to allow his 
name to be used again, and Governor Davis reluctantly consented to accept the 
nomination by the Whig convention. The contest was so close that in the popular 
election there was no choice, but in the General Court, Governor Davis received a 
majority. He was re-elected, but resigned in March, 1835, to accept a seat in the 
United State- Senate, where he remained until January, 1841. Before the close 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 319 

13. William Andrews arrived from Boston. 

Sold all my part of C'" ys . Stock in trade to Anson 
Whipple amounting to 9250 dollars on credit for 3 
years, and took his note for that sum. Delivered him 
all my stock in trade in Worcester to sell on Com- 
mission — He to purchase what remains on hand at the end 
of 2 years. 

14. Went to Church twice. 

17. Got in 3 Loads of Hay. 

18. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas. 



of his term, however, in November, 1840, he was again brought forward for gov- 
ernor, on the Whig ticket, as the most formidable opponent to the growing power 
of the Democratic party, which had carried the state in 1S39, electing its candidate, 
Marcus Morton, by a majority of one out of over one hundred and two thousand 
votes cast. Governor Davis received a majority of fifteen thousand over Morton, 
which the Democratic gains reduced in 1841 to less than five hundred; and in 1842, 
as in 1833, there was no popular choice. After a protracted struggle in the General 
Court, in consequence, doubtless, of Governor Davis's prudent neutrality in the case 
of the so-called "Dorr Rebellion, " in Rhode Island, Morton for a second time secured 
his election by one vote. 

After two years spent in retirement, he was chosen, in 1845, to fill out the unex- 
pired term of Isaac C. Bates in the Senate; and in 1847 was returned for the full 
senatorial term, ending in March, 1853, after which he declined a re-election. 

During his service in Congress, which covered a period of twenty-two years, Gov- 
ernor Davis always acted in strict accordance with northern principles. He opposed 
the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren; the Clay compromise tariff bill of 
1833; the sub-treasury plan of 1S40; the Mexican war; the admission of slavery 
into the newly acquired territories; and the compromise acts of 1850; and was one 
of the most decided supporters of the Wilmot proviso. For many years he was 
chairman of the Committee of Commerce, in the Senate, and devoted much of his 
attention to international relations and finance. His straightforward methods 
and candid manner won for him the fullest confidence, not only of his constituents, 
but of the whole country, and he was popularly known as "Honest John Davis." 

He was a councillor of the American Antiquarian Society from 1824 to 1831; 
and its vice-president from 1831 to 1853, when he succeeded Edward Everett as 
president. He was also president of the Worcester Agricultural Society, in 1831; 
of the Worcester Lyceum, in 1834; and the first president of both the State Mutual 
Life Assurance Company, and of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. 

Governor Davis married, 28 March, 1822, Eliza, daughter of Aaron and Lucretia 
Chandler Bancroft. 

[Born, Northborough, Mass., 13 January, 1787. Died, Worcester, 19 April, 1854.] 



320 



American Antiquarian Society. 



19. Mr. Thaxter and Wife visited. 

Got in 1 Load of Hay. Frazer rec' 1 1 trunk with her 
Things from Boston. 

20. Got in 3 Loads of Hay. 

21. Mr. Foster of Rutland preached. Went to the South 
Church in the afternoon. 

22. Mrs. T. Company. 

23. Mr. Whipple sat out for Walpole. 

25. Mrs. Thomas visited at M r . Thaxters with my 
grand daughters & myself. 

26. Rode out. Judge Bangs — Gouty — went with me. 

27. Went to Holden, and Judge Bangs went with me — 
cime home by way of Tatnuck. 

28. Went to Church twice. 

29. Dr. Bancroft & wife went to Vermont. Mrs. Thomas 
and my grand daughters Mary and Frances went to Millbury. 

31. Miss R. Armstrong came up from Boston in the 
Stage — had her Nose and other parts of her head, and her 
legs wounded by a severe jolt occasioned by the Stage 
going over a Log. Mrs. T. had Company. 



July 8. Of W. Stedman, for I. 



Cash received. 
15. 
17. 



Thomas, 11.09 

11. Of Mr. Whipple, 15.00 

Pew. Tilley Rice, 4.00 19. 
Cash paid away. 

July 1. Mrs. Thomas, 10.00 

Toney, 5.00 

Carting Gravel, 5.00 

4th of July ticket, 6.00 

7. House, .60 

Mary Anne, 50.00 

10. Expenses to Lancaster, 3.00 

My brother, Cash, 9.00 

15. Piling Bricks, 2.00 

Mrs. Thomas, 5.00 

Carting Gravel, 5.83 

Paid for boards, 1.00 

Post office, 3.25 



Mr. Whipple, 0.61 

Mr. Blake, 4.00 

Borrowed of Col. Clap, 15.00 

Rent in Boston, 225.00 



Salt, 

Paid for shingles pur- 
chased. 

Miss, for my Niece's 
daughter, Anne, 

Mrs. Thomas, 

Pd. Wilson, towards 
Bricks, 

Piling Bricks, 

Tucker for Posts and 
Rails, 

Mrs. T. 1.00, Geer, 



1.25 



3.50 



20.00 
20.00 



50.00 
2.00 



3.00 
1.50 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 321 

August, 1S16. 

2. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde spent the Evening 
with us. 

4. Went to church twice. M r . Dabney, a young candi- 
date preached. 

6. Miss Lynde & Judge Bangs. 

7. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster on a visit to my 
brother in the Coach, and carried with her Miss Rebecca 
Armstrong. 

9. My grand daughter Mary Rebecca went to Boston — 
in a Hack with Mrs. Trumbull. Mrs. Thomas returned 
from Lancaster. 

11. Went to Church twice. 

12. My Grand daughter Frances went with a number 
of young persons on a ride of pleasure to Westboro' & 
Grafton. 

16. E. S. Thomas, 1 (son of my brother Joshua) with his 



'Ebenezer Smith Thomas, the son of Joshua and Mary Twing Thomas, was appren- 
ticed to his uncle to learn the printer's trade, in 1788, but four years later he left 
Worcester, and was employed for a time as a bookbinder in Boston. In 1795 he 
went to Charleston, S. C, where for the next twelve years he had a large bookstore 
and bindery. While on a visit to New England, in 1804, he formed a partnership 
with Nathaniel G. and Christopher Olney, Jr., and built in Providence the fifth 
cotton factory in the United States. Intending to settle in Providence, he closed 
his business in Charleston in the spring of 1S07, but in the following summer he was 
p srsuaded to dispose of his interest in the cotton mill and to remove to Baltimore. 
He purchased and began to improve a large farm there, but the embargo so reduced 
the price of its products, that he was compelled to relinquish it in November, 1809. 
From 1810 to 1816 he edited the Charleston City Gazette when he again settled in 
Baltimore. In 1S18 and 1819 he was a member of the Maryland Legislature. From 
1829 to his death, he lived in Cincinnati, where he was the editor of the Commercial 
Daily Advertiser from 1829 to 1835 and of the Daily Evening Post from 1835 to 1839. 

Mr. Thomas made several visits to Europe and published in 1840 the "Remin- 
iscences of Sixty Five Years." in two volumes, a journal of his life at home and 
abroad. 

He married in November, 1805, a daughter of Adam Fonerden. of Baltimore. 
| Born, Providence, R. I., 1775. Died, Cincinnati, O,, 22 October. 1845.1 

21 



322 American Antiquarian Society. 

wife, late of Charleston, S. C. arrived here from Boston 
& Lancaster, on their way to Baltimore. 

Frazer received by team, more of her household Goods 
from Boston. 

The South meeting house is undergoing thorough repairs. 

17. E. S. Thomas and His wife at tea. 

18. E. S. Thomas & wife spent the day with us. 

19. E. S. Thomas & wife left Worcester for Sterling. 

22. The town began making the Road behind D r . Lin- 
coln's Store near the Court house — north. Williams got 
in the Oats from the field about 130 bushels. 

25. Went to Church twice. Unwell. Mrs. Seaver and 
Mary Parker at dinner. 

26. Town Meeting. Choice of Register [of Deeds] and 
Member to Congress. Committee on my application to the 
town did not report. The Church and Congregation of the 
south parish in Worcester, having given the Rev. Mr. Goodrich 1 



1 Charles Augustus Goodrich, the T son of Rev. Samuel Goodrich, of Berlin, Conn., 
was graduated from Yale in 1812, and after he was licensed, in 1815, preached for a 
few months in Congress Hall, at Saratoga Springs. 15 July, 1816, he was settled as 
the colleague of Dr. Samuel Austin, the minister of the Old South Church, who had 
accepted the presidency of the University of Vermont, and became the sole minister 
on the latter's formal dismission, in 1818. His settlement was opposed by but one 
person, Daniel Waldo, who was not himself a member of the church, though some of 
his family were; but after his ordination, 9 October, 1816, personal objections to his 
doctrines, and to the government of the church, caused the opposition to spread so 
widely, that it grew into the most bitter quarrel which has ever occurred in any church 
in Worcester. After all attempts at reconciliation had failed an ecclesiastical council 
was resorted to, which resulted in the acquittal of Mr. Goodrich on all the charges 
brought against him. The disaffected withdrew, and formed, with others the Cal- 
vinist or Central Church. Two years later, ill health compelled Mr. Goodrich to ask 
for his dismissal, which was granted 14 November, 1S20. He then returned to Berlin 
and devoted himself to literary pursuits. He was the author of numerous works on 
American history, and was for many years associated with his brother, Samuel G. 
Goodrich, (Peter Parley) in the compilation of historical and geographical text books. 
In 1848 he removed to Hartford. Conn,, where he held a pastorate, and was at one time 
a member of the State Senate. 

Mr. Goodrich married, in 1818, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Benoni Upson, of Berlin. 
[Born, Berlin, Conn., 1790. Died, Hartford, Conn., 4 January, 1862.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas, 323 

a call to settle as their Minister, he signified to them his 
acceptance. 

28. Let the pew lately occupied by M r . Tilley Rice to 
Mrs. Field — 7 dols. per annum. Let the pew belonging to 
my son, to Elijah Flagg, farmer. 

29. Dr. Bancroft and Wife and Mrs. Seaver visit. 

30. Frazer and my Grand daughter Frances went to 
Sterling in the carriage & returned. 

I received a very polite and friendly Letter from a Com- 
mittee of the Philadelphia Typographical Society, appointed 
for that Society, inclosing a Vote of the Society, informing 
me that I was unanimously elected an honorary member, 
etc. Also, a Certificate of my Election, elegantly engraved, 
and enclosed in a splendid frame. 

31. Phebe Franklin went to Mendon — Maria Webb an 
assistant in the family. 

Begun to finish the Road, on the hill, north of the Court 
house, for the County, which was begun by the town. 

This summer the weather has been the most extraordin- 
ary that I can remember. A frost every month since last 
autumn. But few warm days, this summer. No month 
but what in several days of it a fire has been very 
agreeable. The nights generally very cool. Three times 
Frost in August, which in many places cut off the Indian 
Corn and Potatoes. The season has been remarkably dry, 
in the United States generally, and in many parts of 
Europe — as has the cold also — Crops of Hay very Short. 
But the Crops of English grain have been very good. 
Several times frost in Sept 1 ', as well as in all the months 
of summer. 1 



'The year 1816 has always been known as the year in which there was no summer. 
The preceding winter had been severe, but April opened with warm sunny weather, 
which gave every promise of an early spring. In the latter part of the month, how- 
ever, severe snow squalls, followed by ice, destroyed the buds on the trees. A 
cold and frosty season set in, which continued, with the exception of three weeks 
of warm weather in September and October, through the summer and autumn. 



324 American Antiquarian Society. 

September, 1816. 

1. Went to Church twice. 

2. Geer began working on the Hill. 

3. K. Noah began to paint the mansion house — I think 
it is now Eight years since it was last painted. Rebecca 
Thomas from Lancaster came on a visit. 

4. Rice began painting with Noah. 

7. K. Noah worked at painting 5 days. Rice 4 days. 
Geer worked 6 days on the hill his son 3 days. 

8. Went to Church once. My seeing eye much in- 
flamed. 

9. Geer one day — his son half a day — Knower 1 day — 
Rice \ day. Began a Vault, 9 feet square, including the 
Stoning, for the Kitchen Sink. My Nephew's daughter 
Rebecca returned to Sterling. 

11. Geer 2 days, his son 2 days. Cold. Surtouts and 
fires made use of. Finished the Vault for the Sink of the 



Almost all vegetation was destroyed, not only in this country, but in Europe. The 
fruit and vegetables were killed and even the grass was so withered that the grazing 
cattle could hardly eat it. Observations taken at the time, in Philadelphia, show 
that in June, from six to ten inches of snow fell in Vermont, and three inches in the 
interior of New York. Ice formed in every month, and 5 July, it was as. thick as 
window glass in Pennsylvania, New York and New England. 



Aug. 7. 



Aug. 1. 



L3. 





Cash received. 






Borrowed at Bank, 


450.00 


14. 


Rent, Newbury Street 




Of Joseph, in the store 


3. 00 




house. 


50.00 


Rec d . part of Parker's 










Rent, 


20.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 






Paid Barber, the Car- 






Mary Rebecca, 


3.00 


penter, 


10.00 




Barrel of Sugar & sun- 




Paid Highway Taxes, 






dries, 


50.00 


Commuted for Cash, 


40.00 


15. 


Sundries, 


2.00 


Paid for Shingles, 


12.00 




Frazer, 


5.00 


Anson Whipple, sent 




22. 


Paid the Bank, 


77.75 


to Walpole, 


300.00 




Pew Tax, 


36.00 


Mrs. T, 


10.00 


26. 


Mrs. T. 


3.00 


Anson Whipple, sent 




28. 


Phebe, 


4.00 


to Boston, 


100.00 


30. 


Oil, 


1.00 


Phebe, 


1.00 









Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 325 

Kitchen. Knower 2 clays; N. Flagg, 2 days; his hands two, 
each 3 days. 

12. Guyer 1 day, his son 1 day, Knower 1 day. 

Misses Morris returned from Newyork. Judge Bangs 
& Miss Lynde. 

Bible Society met in Worcester. 

13. Misses Morris went to Leominster. Spent last 
Evening with us. 

15. Went to church twice. 

16. Fire in the Parlours and Surtouts 'worn generally 
for the four last days. 

17 Work on the hill north of the Court house. 

Began to shingle the Store, Barber with 2 hands. 

18. Do. Barber with 3 hands. 

Work on the hill north of the Court house with team and 
5 hands. 

19. Finished making the small piece of Road north of 
the Court house — it was chiefly rock — it has cost the town 
about 100 dollars including the Damages (Benefit) given 
to Mr. Salisbury, and the County 152 dollars including 12 
dollars damage allowed Whittemore. 

Began digging a well at the foot of the hill, South, on 
the 2 cl Street, or rather at the junction of three Streets, for 
the benefit of the neighbors (and at their expense) in case 
of fire. 1 



J At this time a middle road extended along a portion of Court Hill, the southerly 
end of which, as shown in a woodcut in the History of Worcester County, published 
in 1830, entered Main street nearly in front of Mr. Thomas's house. A little to the 
north, between his house and the Court House, steps led from this road to the top 
of the hill, along the edge of which was a row of stone posts, connected by an iron 
chain. Both slopes were banked by a stone wall. 

In March, 1832, the Court of Sessions, on the petition of Nathan Heard, Rejoice 
Newton, Samuel B. Thomas, John W. Lincoln and Isaac Davis, representing the 
citizens of Worcester, ordered that this road be discontinued. Main street was 
widened by cutting down the lower part of the hill, and the two walls were replaced 
by one of rough field stone. 



326 



American Antiquarian Society. 



Barber absent — he had 3 hands to work — Knower did 
not work. 

20. Barber and 2 hands. Knower one day. 

21. Barber and 2 hands. Knower 1 day. 

22. Went to Church twice. Mr. Cotton preached. 

24. Elliot of Millbury began to paint the Roofs of the 
Mansion house, Ash house and necessary. 

25. My grand daughter Frances went with a large Com- 
pany to visit at Waldo's. 

26. Eliot and his Brother finished painting Roof of the 
House. 

Frances visited with a large Co y . at Dr. Fiske's on Tues- 
day evening — and this evening at Levi Lincoln, jun 1 . 

27. Went down the well now digging in the Street, in 
a tub. 22 feet to the bottom of the well. 

29. Went to Church twice. Mr. Allen preached. 

30. Worcester Reg 1 , mustered in Holden. Judge Bangs 
and Miss Lynde visit. 



October, 1816. 

1. My Son & his wife went to Wakefield, N. H., to 
see their son Isaiah at School. Fair & pleasant; but a very 
unpleasant fracas in the family. 



Cash received. 



Sept. 



Sept. 1. 



2. 


Store, 


5.26 


13. 


Of Mr. Burnside, for A. 




4. 


Borrowed of Col. Clapp 


, 10.00 




A. S., 


7.00 


7. 


Do., of Judge Bangs, 


20.00 




Of the County Treasurer 




8. 


Pew Rent of Whitney, 


7.00 




for Road, 


135.16* 


10. 


Store, 


7.00 










Cash pa 


d away 






1. 


George A. Trumbull, 


4.84 


16. 


Paid Gibson for Shingles, 


31.50 


2. 


Mrs. T., 


9.00 


18. 


Paid Stowel for Chain, 


15.67 


4. 


Paid Tax on Stafford 




20. 


Paid Joseph Patch for 






Turnpike, 


20.00 




boards, 


10.00 


7. 


Paid for a hat, 


10.00 


24. 


Paid Barber, carpenter, 


10.00 


9. 


Paid Col. Clapp, bor- 






Paid < reer, Jun?., 


15.00 




rowed, 


10.00 


26. 


Mr. Geyer, jun, Eben r ., 


10.00 


10. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


7.00 




Paid I >irec< Tax for the 




13. 


Paid M r . Burnside, 


16.00 




place at Paxton, 


13.63 


15. 


Paid Robbing for 

Shingles, 


41.00 


28. 


Paid Wilson, brickmaker. 


1.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 327 

2. My granddaughter Frances returned to Boston. 
She has been with me three months. James Williams 
went to Vermont and Canada. 

3. Workmen finished the well in the Street at the foot 
of the hill close to the upper Wall. 

5. Knower worked at painting every day this week. 
Heard from Kentucky that the Skeleton, or ''Mummy" 
so-called, was sent to the Am. An. So y . but Nahum Ward 1 
by whom it was sent, kept it and exhibited it thro' the 
States. 2 

6. Went to Church twice. 



1 Nahum Ward, the son of Thomas Walter and Elizabeth Denny Ward, of Shrews- 
bury, Mass., was a merchant in Shrewsbury, and also served for some years as a deputy 
sheriff under his father. In 1811, having negotiated for some lands in the "Ohio Co. 
Purchase," he removed to Marietta, Ohio, and opened an office as a land, broker. He 
acquired a fortune in developing the country, and became a large holder of real estate. 
He was at one time mayor of Marietta. 

Mr. Ward married 3 December, L817, Sarah Catharine, daughter of William 
Skinner, of Marietta, who died in 1S44; and in 1849 he married his cousin, Harriet, 
daughter of Daniel and Nancy Watson Denny, of Leicester, Mass. 
[Born, Shrewsbury, Mass., 23 October, 1785. Died, Marietta, Ohio, 6 April, I860.] 

2 This "dessicated mummy" had been discovered about two years before on the 
estate of Charles Wilkins, of Lexington, Kentucky, three miles from Mammoth 
Cave, by some workmen who were digging for salt-petre. It was seated between 
four limestone slabs, eight feet below the surface of the ground, its knees brought 
close to the body, its hands clasped before it, and with head erect. Mr. Wilkins 
entrusted it to Nahum Ward, to be delivered to the American Antiquarian Society; 
but the latter appropriated it for himself, and exhibited it in all the large cities of 
the country. As soon as the Sub-Council learned of this, steps were immediately 
taken to obtain possession of it, and in July, 1816, Dr. Bancroft, Francis Blake, 
Rejoice Newton and Dr. Oliver Fiske were appointed a committee to wait on Mr. 
Ward. Their efforts were futile for some time, during which the mummy was even 
exhibited in Worcester, as is shown by the following notice in the National Mgi» 
of 18 September: — 

Frequent rumors of its expected arrival called forth numerous amusing squibs 
and poems in the local papers: and there is a tradition that when it finally reached 
Worcester, in the spring of 1S17, the church bells were tolled an indefinite number 
of times for the age of the deceased. 

It remained in the society's possession until 1876, when it was placed in the govern- 
ment's exhibit of mummies at the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, and was 
afterwards, at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, added to that collection. 



328 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Finished repairing the South End of Court hill. 

10. Knower began painting again. * 

Great Fires in the Woods in the district of Maine and in 
Newhampshire have filled the Atmosphere with smoke for 
several days. 

12. Rode to Millbury. Judge Bangs went with me. 



Great Natural Curiosity. 
— ooooooooooooo — 

TO BE SEEN AT COL. SIKES's HALL, 

A FEMALE MUMMY, 

CUPPOSED to be more than 1000 
^^ years old. She was recently discovered in a 
Saltpetre Cave, in Kentucky. At the time, she 
was shrouded in cloth made from the bark of the 
willow, and ornamented with beads and feathers, 
having her instruments for working and musick 
lying by her; as was also a very curious wooden 
bowl, containing burnt bones, the relics of some 
of her friends, and the preserved skin of a Rattle 
Snake — all of which are preserved, and now pre- 
sented to the view of the curious. She appears 
to have been about 5 feet 8 inches in height, and 
of the most delicate and elegant symmetry. The 
hair is still on her head; some of her teeth yet 
remain, and the nails of her fingers and toes .are 
still perfect. 

It is presumed that she, together with the articles 
found with her, is one of the greatest curiosities 
ever exhibited to the American world. Great 
conjectures are formed as to the period of her 
existence; but we presume it is no exaggeration to 
say, that in all probability she is as ancient as 
the immense Mounds of the western Country, 
which have so much astonished the philosophical 
world. 

l^p° This extraordinary phenomenon will remain 
in town till Saturday, the 28th. 

*** Admittance, 25 cents. 
Worcester, Sept. 16. 



Diai-// of Isaiah Thomas. 329 

13. Went to Church twice. Mr. Thayer preached. 

14. My brother visited me. 

15. My brother returned to Lancaster. Mr. Whipple 
returned from Boston. 

17. Knower only half a clay. 

18. Knower absent. 

19. Knower half a day and finished. Mrs. Thomas 
went to Millbury with Miss Lynde. 

20. Went to Church twice. Mr. Allen of Bolton preached. 

21. Went to Boston in the Coach with only Bragg, my 
Coachman. Lodged at my son's. 

22. Hired a Hack and went with my son's Wife, and his 
two eldest daughters to Cambridge, at the invitation of 
D r . Bancroft to attend the quarterly Exhibition at the 
University, his son delivered the English oration — Exercises 
at the College Chapel — they were very good, particularly 
that of George Bancroft— dined in his room 1 with a number 
of Ladies and Gentlemen — excellent musick — Saw the Gov- 
ernor and had a short interview with him — Had an invita- 
tion to dine with the Corporation of the University and 
the Governor — but was preengaged. 2 Returned in the 
rain, to Boston. 



'George Bancroft roomed in Holworthy 4, with William Smith of Exeter, N. H. 

2 In October, 1754, the Board of Overseers, dissatisfied with the standard in elocu- 
tion and the classics in the college, appointed a committee "to project some new 
method to promote oratory." Acting upon the report of this committee, in June, 
1755, it was voted that instead of the usual declamations in the Chapel, the Presi- 
dent "should select some ingenious dialogue, either from Erasmus's Colloquies, or 
from some other polite Latin author, and that he should appoint as many students as 
there are persons in such dialogue, each to personate a particular character, and 
to translate his part into polite English, and prepare himself to deliver it in the 
Chapel in an oratorical manner." The records of the Overseers state that in the 
following April six students pronounced before them an English dialogue translated 
from Castalio; whereupon "the board unanimously expressed their acceptance and 
approbation" and voted "that the several students aforesaid be sent for and ac- 
quainted, that the board are well pleased with their performance, and desire them 
to proceed as they have begun, that they may not only render themselves ornaments 



330 



American Antiquarian Society. 



23. Met with the Am. Antiq". So y . at the Exchange 
Coffee house, at 10 "'Clock 1 — Election of Officers took place — 



'AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 



ORDER OF PERFORMANCES. 

AT THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 

AT THE STONE CHAPEL, OX WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23. 1816. 



I. Voluntary, on the Organ. 

I I . Prayer. 

III. Hymn. 



IV. ADDRESS by the Rev. Wm. Bentley 

V. Hymn. 

VI. Benediction. 



HYMN I. 

LET children hear the mighty deeds, 
Which God perform 'd of old; 

Which in our younger years we saw. 
And which our fathers told. 



HYMN II 



\ GOD of Eternity! from Thee 
Did infant Time its being draw: 
Moments and days, and months and years 
Revolve by thy unvaried law. 



He bids us make his glories known, ) Silent and slow they glide away; — 
His works of power and grace; I Steady and strong the current flows; 

And we'll convey His wonders down ) 'Till lost in that unmeasur'd sea 

Through every rising race. ) From which its being first arose. 



Our lips shall tell them to our sons, i 
And they again to theirs; 

That generations yet unborn, 
May teach them to their heirs. 

Thus shall they learn in God alone 
Their hope securely stands; 

That they may ne'er forget his works, 
But practice his commands. 



The thoughtless sons of Adam's race 
Upon the rapid stream are borne. 

To that unseen, eternal home, 
From which no travellers return. 

Great Source of Wisdom! teach our hearts 
To know the price of every hour; 

That Time may bear us on to joys, 
Beyond its measure and its power. 



4Sf DOORS OPEN AT 3 O'CLOCK FOR THE ADMITTANCE OF LADIES. 
i After the original broadside in the possession of the society.) 
The members elected were Jonathan Goodhue of New York; Nathan Dane, of 
Beverly; Leverett Saltonstall, Benjamin Ropes Nichols and Samuel Putnam, of 
Salem; Benjamin Allen and Rev. Timothy Clowes, of Albany, N. Y.; Rev. Isaac 
Lewis, of New Rochelle, N. Y.; James Wilson, William Tilghman and Peter S. Du 
Ponceau, of Philadelphia; John Bailey, of Canton; Governor John Brooks, of Medford; 
Rev. Horace Holley and General Henry Dearborn, of Boston; Levi Hedge, of Cam- 
bridge; John Bancroft , of Worcester; Alexander de Humboldt, and Viscount de Chateau- 
briand of France; Charles Wilkins, of Lexington, Ky.; Alexander K. Marshall, of 
Washington; Paul Fearing, of Marietta. O.; Dr. Dudley Rhodes, of Zanesville, O.; 
Robert Anderson, the Earl of Buchan and Sir David Brewster, of Edinburgh; Adam 
Clark, Rev. Mark Noble and Earl Stanhope, of England; Mark Langdon Hill, of 
Phippsburgh, Me.; and John Hay Farnham, of Kentucky. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 331 

was again unanimously elected President — Rev. D 1 . Ban- 
croft and Hon. Timothy Bigelow Vice presidents. Dined 
at the Exchange Coffee house with a number of the So y . — 
Attended with the members at half past 3 "'Clock, at the 
King's Chapel where an Address was delivered to the So y . 
and a large audience, by the Rev. Wm. Bentley of Salem — 
Rev. D 1 . Harris made a prayer on the occasion — good musick. 

24. Visited Mrs. Munroe— late M. Burns. Dined with 
Mr. Andrews. Purchased 5 Boxes of Candles — 10 lbs. H 
Coffee — 2 barrels of Flour — box of Figs — White Sugar and 
sundry other articles for the family — a surtout cost 33 
dols. Broad cloth for a suit of clothes, etc. etc. 

25. Settled with Co y . our last annual account. 

26. Sat out for Worcester in the Coach — Rained hard — 
stopped 3 hours at Newton — Sat out again — rained very 
hard all the way to Framingham — tarried there all 
night. 

27. Sat off for home — breakfasted at Westborough. 
Got home to dine. 

I was elected a Member of the American Philosophical 
Society, and received Official information of the same by a 



to the College and an honor to their country, but may also excite an emulation in 
others to excel in eloquence and oratorical attainments, and, in like manner, to 
merit the approbation of their board." Two years later these exhibitions were 
held quarterly; and in May, 1760, they were again changed so that twice in each 
year, in the spring and fall, each class recited publicly in the college hall or chapel, 
in their various studies; and once every half year the two senior classes gave a public 
exhibition of their progress in philosophical and mathematical learning, under the 
direction of the professor of mathematics. This was the origin of the quarterly 
exhibitions. The purpose of the overseers was not fully effected, however, until 
July, 1766, when a law was formally enacted, that twice in every year, at the semi- 
annual visitation of the committee of the overseers, some of the scholars should 
"publicly exhibit specimens of their proficiency by pronouncing orations and deliv- 
ering dialogues, either in English or one of the learned languages, or hearing a forensic 
disputation, or such other exercises as the President and Tutors shall direct. " 

After being held for over a century, these exhibitions were given up in the winter 
of 1869-70, during the first year of President Eliot's administration, on the ground 
that they were no longer a stimulus or reward to thestudents, and that the communi- 
ty took no interest in them. 



332 American Antiquarian Society. 

letter from Mr. I)u Ponceau, Corresponding Secretary of 
the Historical Committee of that institution, in Pennsyl- 
vania. 

28. Corn husked — In general very bad. 

29. Mary Parker— Visit. 

30. Rev. Mr. Allen 1 ordained at Northborough. 

November, 1816. 
1. Killed a pig. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde, visit. 

3. Went to Chh. twice. 

4. Town Meeting — the Committee of the town, reported 
in my favour respecting the bridge. This is the third Com- 
mittee which has so reported. My concern again put off 
till the adjournment of the Meeting. 

5. Council of the Am. Antq". Society met at my 
house, and several counsellors for other States were 
appointed. 

7. Judge Bangs & family visit. 

9. Sat out 8 small Fruit Trees which I received from 
Newyork, viz. 1 early yellow Necktarine — 2 Peach Apri- 
cots — 2 yellow Egg Plumbs — 1 green gage Plumb — 1 early 
cherry do — 1 black heart Cherry. 

10. Went to Church twice. 

13. Mrs. Frazer, alias Lawrence — left us this day, 
by mutual consent and went in the Stage to Boston, 



'Joseph Allen, the son of Phineas and Ruth Smith Allen, of Medfield, Mass.. was 
graduated from Harvard in 1811. and studied for the ministry under the direction 
of Rev. Henry Ware, in Cambridge. He was ordained over the church in North- 
boroughi Mass., as minister of the town, 30 October, 1816, and held this pastorate for 
over forty years, when at his own request a colleague was settled, and he relinquished 
the active duties of the parish. He received the degree of D. D. from Harvard, 
in 1848. 

Dr. Allen married, 3 February, 1818, Lucy Clarke, daughter of Rev. Henry and 
Mary Clarke Ware, of Cambridge. 
jBom, Medfield, 15 August, 1790. Died, Northboro, 23 February, 1873.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



333 



with an intent to keep house and live with her husband, 
and for that purpose her furniture goes down in a team. 
She has lived with us Twelve years and an half. Knower 
worked Monday and half of yesterday. 

14. Frazer's goods went to Boston this morning by Rice. 
Moses Thomas, visit. Had the old covered Sleigh, and the 
pung, open sleigh painted. 

15. My son, and his daughter Mary, came from Boston 
in a Chaise. 



Oct' 



Oct' 







Cash received. 






1. 


In the Store, 


1.18* 


23. 


Rec d . Rent in Boston, 1 






Borrowed of Mr. J. 






quarter 2 houses, 


235.00 




Wilson, 


25.00 




Do. State Bank, dividend, 


50.00 




Reed. 120 dollars N. 






Do. Loan Office, 


24.70 




Y. bills for T. A. 


120.00 




State bank loan to my 




10. 


Rec' 1 . Bank, 


521.52 




son 1300. rec. only, 1150.00 






Cash pa 


id away 






2. 


Eliot towards painting 




25 


Do. Painting Coach & 






roof of the house. 


20.00 




Repairs, 


37.00 




Lent Williams, 


10.00 




Figs & Raisins, 


4.00 


3. 


Paid Frazer, 


5.00 




M. B., 


50.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


5.00 




Dessert knives and forks 


2.42 




Frances, 


1.00 




Shoes for Andrew, 


1.50 


9. 


Cheese, 


3.70 




Wm. Andrews for Brandy 


25.65 


10. 


Sundries, Mary Anne, 


12.00 




4 N" s . Cyclopedia, 


15.20 




Paid Boots, 


4.25 




Spermaceti Candles, 


4.60 




Paid Bank, 


86.63 




Broad Cloth, 


34.37* 




Thomas & Andrews, 


100.00 




Thread Box, 


0.40 




Mrs. Thomas, (Bank) 


44.00 




Flannel, 


5.00 




Mrs. Thomas, family, 


30.00 




Folio German Bible with 




11. 


Paid postage, 


6.83 




Cuts and plates, 


10.00 




Paid Judge Bangs which 




Sausages, etc., 


2.00 




was borrowed, 


20.00 


26. 


House keeping & 






Paid Mr. Wilson, do., 


25.00 




Coachman, 


27.25 




Paid Luke Rice, fo 




1 


Grand children, 


5.36 




painting, 


7.00 




Expenses home from 






Paid Wilson toward 


i 




Boston, 


5.50 




Bricks, 


50.00 




Surtout, 


33.00 


13. 


Sent Mr. Swift for Mary 




Paid Miss Hannah Weld, 






Anne, 


30.00 




bank dividend, 


11.00 




My brother, 


2.00 




Do. Miss Armstrong, 


14.00 


16. 


Anne L. Sheldon, 


10.00 




Repairs of a house in 




19. 


Eben r . Geer, 


5.87* 




Boston, 


15.00 




Eben r . S. Geer, 


12.00 


28. 


Pd. for freight of Flour, 


2.61 




Paid Bragg, 


22.00 




for Neat's foot oyl, 


1.00 


21 ! 


Expenses on the Roac 


I 


29. 


Frazer, 


1.00 




to Boston, 


1.50 




Phebe, 


5.00 


23. 


Dinner at Exchange Cof 




30. 


Carter-Eliot, painting, 


13.33 




fee House, 


2.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 


24. 


Paid Callender & Jen 






Knower, towards paint- 






kins, in full, 


14.06 




ing, 


10.00 



:;;: I American Antiquarian Society. 

17. Went to Church twice. Rev. Mr. Capron of Sterling 
preached. My son and his daughter returned to Boston. — A 
Stranger knocked at my door this Evening — it was dark— 
I went to the door without a light — he gave me a Letter, 
signed "F. Desecure" he wished privacy and Charity — he 
declined entering the house. I went into my room, read 
his letter written by himself — I returned to the door quickly 
and without a light, gave him only a dollar — he expressed 
with much feeling his gratitude — observed he never begged 
before, and that I might perhaps hear from him again. I 
regretted much after he was gone, and on reflection that I 
had not been more benevolent. — He said he came from the 
Isle of France, arrived at Cape Cod, and was bound to Albany. 

23. Received a Letter, and some Books, a present from 
Professor Ebeling 1 of Hamburg. One of the Books is 
Schedeli's Chroiion — very ancient and curious, — printed at 
Nuremberg 1493, filled with cuts, folio. 

24. Went to Chh. twice. 

25. The Town, in a thin Meeting heard the report of their 
Com ee . on my claim, and again rejected the report of this 
their Third Com ee . on this business, all of whom reported 
in my favour. 

27. Dancing Assembly began in Worcester this Evening. 

28. Thanksgiving. Went to Church. Only Mr. Whip- 
ple dined with us. 

29. Frazer, our late housekeeper, returned from Boston, 
after an absence of only 17 days — during which time she began 
housekeeping with her husband, but finding things different 
from what she expected, quitted her house and furniture, and 
came back which was an event quite unexpected to us. 

Town, State and County Tax this year 173.66 

Minister's & Pew Tax, 70.75 



1 Christoph Daniel Ebeling, a German writer who devoted his life to geographical 
studies. His great work was the "Geography and History of North America," 
for which he received a vote of thanks from Congress. His library was bought, 
in 1818, by Israel Thorndike, and presented to Harvard College. He died in Hamburg 
30 June. 1817. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



335 



December, 1816. 

1. Went to Chh. twice. 

2. Two pumps were placed in the Well at the foot of Court 
Hill, which we, a few neighbors, lately had dug and stoned. 

4. Wrote to Mr. Sheldon. 

6. Removed my lodging from the back to the front 
south Chamber, for the winter, and on the 4th inst put on 
flannel drawers and Waistcoat. 

7. Judge Benj . Heywood died this morning — -a few 
days since several of his ribs were broken by a fall — a very 
useful man. 

8. Went to Chh. twice. 

9. Attended the funeral of Judge Heywood. Court of 
Com. Pleas. 

10. Attended the funeral of Mrs. Allen, widow of the 
late Tho s . Allen, who kept a Coffee house at Newlondon 
before and after the Commencement of the Revolutionary 
war. 



Nov. 



Nov. 







Cash receivec 






11. 


Maccarty So . tax, 


4.00 




17. Of my son, 


75.00 


14. 


At the bank, discounted 




31. Of Dr. Bancroft, interest, 33. 00 




for Whipple, 


415.80 




Of Tim-v Marshall, 


3.50 






Cash pa 


d away. 




1. 


Worcester Bank, 


452.25 




Paid towards Well at the foot 


2. 


Peter Rich.cutting Canal IS. 50 




of the hill. 


20.00 


5. 


Paid Earle, 


3.00 


21. 


Paid Gleason towards Wood, 


5.00 


11. 


Frazer, Spoons, 


2.75 




Paid Tucker for posts & 






Rice, teaming. 


2.67 




Rails, 


3.60 


12. 


Paid Frazer, 


20.60 


25. 


Postage, 


0.50 




Paid Rice, teamster. 


3.50 




Paid Gleason, his acct. 


16.50 


13. 


Paid D°. freight of 






Paid Putnam for Stones in 






Frazer's goods. 


5.00 




full. 


8.00 


16. 


Paid Robinson for paints 


26. 


Mrs. Thomas. 


10.00 




& oyl. 


44.35 




Mrs. Morse for Frazer, 


1.25 




Paid Miss Bancroft for 




27. 


Paid Bragg, 


20.00 




Frazer, 


26.15 


30. 


Paid for fruit Trees from 






Paid my Acc't to Miss 






New York, 


4.87 




Bancroft, 


24.48 




Do., TinU Marshall for 




18. 


Paid Knower, 


18.00 




boards. 


13.25 


20. 


Paid Tho 9 . White for 






Do. Frazer, 


1.75 




Simmons, 


6.00 




Do. Do.. 


3.00 



336 



American Antiquarian Society. 



Dr. Oliver Fiske, declared to be elected Register of Deeds 
for this County by a majority of all the votes. I became 
his Bondsman at his request. 

Agreed with Mr. Anson Whipple to dissolve our connex- 
ion in trade — to take back the property, and give up his 
obligations for 14000 dollars he owed me. Frazer removed 
to the South little Chamber. 

14. Court of Common Pleas adjourned to Monday next. 

15. Went to Church twice. 

16. A man far advanced in life, belonging to Winchen- 
don, was on the bridge by the Court house, run over and 
killed by the Mail Stage from Boston. 

Issued a Warrant for the Meeting of the Worcester 
Social Library Society. 

18. Common Pleas ended their session. 

19. Mrs. Legate and Miss Rebecca Calef from Leomin- 
ster made us a visit, Mrs. Thomas and Rev. Dr. Bancroft 
and Wife visited at M r . Thaxter's. 

20. My Son's Wife absented herself from home. 



Part 


jf Gifts, Charity, &c. for 1816. I do not remember to set down but 


a part 


of these things. 










Jan y . 1. 


Mrs. T. Value 3.75 Mrs. 




24. 


Charity 50 do. 1.00 


1.50 




Frazer 2.00 Bowditch, 




Apr. 5. 


do. 


0.50 




our Cook 1.12J Cham- 




16. 


Some .sufferers by fire, 


12.00 




ber maid Franklin, 






Gift, 


1.00 




1 00, Andrew, black 






Charity, 


1.25 




Buy 25 Cents, others 




25. 


My Rrother.Cash&Sundries 7.00 




about 4.00 


11.12* 




His wife, 


1.30 


2. 


Frazer Cash, 


1.75 




Charity, 


1.00 


10. 


Chambermaid, Phebe 




May 10. 


Charity, 


2.00 




Franklin, 


2.40 


19. 


do. 


1.00 




Ch. several times, 


2.00 


May 22. 


Mrs. Parker, 


4.00 


Feb. 9. 


Mary B. 


15.00 




My brother, 


2.50 




Grand Children & 




June 4. 


Mary B. 


25.00 




others, 


3.25 




Grand children, 


5.50 


13. 


Anne Sheldon, 


8.00 




Sundries to people in the 


Feb. 20. 


Ch. &c. 


5.00 




house, 


5.00 


Mar. 9 


Sundries, 


1.00 


12. 


Anne L. Sheldon, 


12.00 


15. 


Ch. 66 Cts. Phebe .50 


1.16 


28. 


M. B. 


100.00 


21. 


My brother, sundries by 






Mary Anne, 30 dols. of 






Mrs. Thomas, 


3.00 




it sent to M r . Swift, 


50.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



337 



Another Stove put up in Dr. Bancroft's meeting house — 
the pipes divided and small Chimnies erected to carry of the 
Smoke. Mrs. Legate and Miss Calef returned to Leominster. 

22. Went to Church twice. 

24. Attended in the Store to examine the Stock brought 
from Walpole with the invoice made out by M r . Whipple. 

25. Dined at Sikes's Coffee house by the Invitation of 
the Sheriff of the County with about 20 others. Rev D r . 
Sumner and Rev. M r . Goodrich were present. 

Rev. D r . Bancroft preached a Christmas Sermon at West- 
boylston, by request. 

26. Spent the Evening with Hon. D r . Oliver Fiske with 
about 20 others. — Handsome Supper. 

29. Went to Church twice. 

31. Mrs. Thomas went in the Coach to Lancaster & 
Leominster. 

Put Stone Jambs to the fire place in the North parlour, 
and an iron back. 

The 23d of this month my son's wife left home, and was 
absent 6 days. 



July 11. 


My brother Cash 9. 




15. 


My brother Cash & 






Sundries 3, 


12.00 




sundries, 


15.00 




Charity, sundry times, 


S.00 


16. 


Anne L. Sheldon, 


10.00 


19. 


do. 


5.00 




Mary Parker, 


1.00 


Aug. 9. 


Mary Rebecca, 


3.00 


Oct. 25. 


Mary B. 


50.00 




My brother, Sundries by 






Grand Children, 


5.36 




Mrs. Thomas, 


3.00 




Servant & Ch. 


1.00 


18. 


Ch. 


2.00 




Gifts, 


12.00 


Aug. 26. 


Ch. 


1.00 


28. 


Mary Parker to pay Miss 




Sept. 13. 


Bible Society, 


30.00 




Waters for Mary's tui- 






Ch. Sundry times, 


2.00 




tion 


20.00 




Various Societies, &c. 


20.00 




Anne Parker, for do. 


15.00 


18. 


Frances, 


1.00 


Nov.ll. 


Frazer, 


3.00 




Sundries, 


2.00 


Nov. 11. 


do. freight of her good 


s 




Contributions, several, 


60.00 




to Boston, 


5.00 


Oct. 3. 


Frances, 


3.00 


17. 


Charity to a Stranger, 


1.00 




Antiq". So y . 


220.00 


Nov.27. 


To applicants for Thank* 


- 




Ch. 


2.00 




giving, 


10.00 


10. 


Mary Anne, Clothes for 




Dec 16. 


Philad" Typog. Society, 


20.00 




her Children, &c. 


102.00 




Towards public well & 






Cash for do. sent to Mr. 






pumps, 


20 00 




Swift, 


30.00 




Do. Do. Do. 


5.00 



22 



:;:;s 



American Antiquarian Society. 



January, 1817 

1. American Antiq". Society met in Boston by adjourn- 
ment. New meeting house in Lancaster dedicated. 
Worcester Social Library Co y . annual meeting. I was 
reelected a Director. Finished settling my concerns with 
M r . Anson Whipple — he sat out for Walpole N. H. this 
evening. 

2. Mrs. Thomas returned from Lancaster with my 
brother's wife. Mr. Jennison 1 , Librarian of the Am. Antiq". 
Society, began making a Catalogue. 



1 Samuel Jennison, the son of Samuel and Sally Fiske Jennison, of Brookfield, 
Mass., came to Worcester in 1800, at the age of twelve, to live with his uncle, Dr. 
Oliv er Fiske, in whose store he was employed. In 1810 he was appointed the account- 
ant of the Worcester Bank, then the only banking institution between Boston and 
Pittsfield. Two years later he became its cashier, and held this position until his 
resignation, in 1846. He was also the treasurer of the Worcester County Institution 
for Savings from its organization, in 1828, to 1S53; treasurer of the town in 1829; 
and town clerk from 1833 to 1836. 

Mr. Jennison was a man of scholarly tastes and a devoted student of English 
literal ure. He was a ready writer, and for more than fifty years was a frequent 
contributor, usually under an anonymous name, both in prose and verse, to the 
newspapers and magazines. He early began the compilation of a dictionary of Amer- 
ican biography, which was nearly completed, when, on learning that Dr. William 
Allen was revising his earlier work on the same subject, he transferred a large number 
of his notes to him. The remainder of the collection, which contains much valuable 
material is now in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society. 

He was the first librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, serving from 1814 
to 1825; corresponding secretary from 1823 to 1826; treasurer from 1829 to 1843. 
and from 1840 to 1S60; and a councillor from 1820 to 1823. 



Dec. 



!).■<•. 







Cash received. 






3. 


Of Mr. Maccarty, 


240.00 


B 


Of Goulding, 


22.50 






Cash paid away. 






4. 


Frazer, 


3.00 


20. 


Paid Miss Rebecca Calef, 




6. 


Paid Bank, 


675.00 




for Mrs. Legate, for 




8. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Bailey's old Dictionary, 


7.00 


10. 


Paid Barber, 


100.00 




Paid Worcester Bank, 


150.00 




Frazer for Barber, 


2.00 




Pd. Gleason toward 






Philadelphia Typog.So) 


, 20.00 




Wood, 


10.00 


15. 


Geer's Account, 


0.69 


22. 


Paid do. do., 


5.00 




Library Tax, 


1.00 


23. 


Oak bark, 


3.00 




Piling up bricks 


1.17 


28. 


Gleason, for work, 


2.00 


17. 


Paid Wilson towards 
bricks, 


50.00 









Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 339 

5. Went to Church twice. 

6. Attended the annual meeting of the Worcester 
Fire Society this Evening — was chosen Moderator — We 
met and supped at Sike's Worcester Coffee house. Mrs. 
Thomas and my brother's wife spent the Evening at Judge 
Bangs's. 

8. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde spent the Evening. 
A Shock of an Earthquake was felt in South Carolina, 
Virginia ami Maryland. 

9. Sent Bragg in the Chaise to carry home my brother's 
wife, she having paid a visit of a week. 

11. Alarm of Thieves in town. 

12. Went to Church twice. Mr. Benson from Thompson 
came to enquire news of M 1 . Sheldon. Judge Bangs. 

14. Mr. Charles Ewer visited us — he was from New- 
york on his way to Boston. Judge Bangs and Miss 
Lynde. 

15. Gave a power of Attorney to M 1 . Knight to go to 
Walpole to settle and receive the property coming from 
the late firm— he sat out for Walpole this day. — I have 
empowered Wm. G. Field, Esq, of Walpole for the like 
purpose. 

16. My son and his daughter Mary arrived from Boston. 

17. Subcouncil of the Am. Antiq". Society, met this 
Evening at my house, as usual. 

Snow, Rain, Hail, Thunder and Lightning, a severe Tem- 
pest in many of the neighboring towns — The thunder storm 
lasted 4 or 5 hours — Wind excessively high. The lightning 
set the new meeting house in Fitzwilliam on fire, and it 
was wholly destroyed— It also set on fire some trees in that 



Mr. Jennison married, in 1815, Mary G., daughter of Edmund Trowbridge and 
Katherine Almy Ellery, of Newport, R. I., and granddaughter of William Ellery, 
the signer of the Declaration of Independence. 
[Born, Brookfield, 24 February, 1788. Died, Worcester, 11 March.lS60.] 



340 American Antiquarian Society. 

neighborhood, two of which were consumed. This Thunder 
Storm extended as far as Philadelphia — where it was also 
severe — it was succeeded by Snow — then rain, and suddenly 
arrested by hard frost which froze the water in the gutters, 
and on the pavements while running into the Sewers. This 
was the second thunder storm in Philadelphia since January 
commenced. 

I find by the settlement made by my agents with M r . A. 
Whipple, whom I sat up in business in that place, and took 
into partnership, that I shall suffer an actual loss of 12,250 
dollars — he presented a deceptive account of Stock. I do 
not know that I can have any remedy. 

19. Wind W. & N. W. blew almost to a Hurricane 
through the last night and all this day. One of the win- 
dows in the Cupola of the Court house was blown in and 
broken, as were several Squares of glass in other parts of 
the Cupola. The wind has been exceedingly high for 3 
days. Went to Church twice. M r . Allen of Northboro' 
preached. 

24. First Sledding this year by the Snow which fell the 
last Evening. Settled accounts on book, with my son. 

25. My son went to Boston this Evening in the Mail 

Stage. 

28. Mr. Knight returned from Walpole. 

31. My grand-daughter Mary was last night at the 
Assembly at Hathaway 's hall. 

February, 1817. 

2. Unwell with Cholic this morning — did not go to 
Church. 

3. Moses Thomas — visit. A poor family in town from 
Plymouth, bound to the Susquehannah — children taken 
sick on the road — detained here several days — about- 10. 
Supported by Charity. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



341 



4. Mrs. Thomas went in the booby hut 1 with Mrs. 
Bancroft and Mrs. Trumbull to visit at Rev. Mr. Nash's in 
Westboylston . 

6. I have been engaged for a week past in examining 
the entricacies of Anson Whipple's Account of the Company's 
Stock, and the arts used by him to swindle me out of my 
property, and in getting papers and statements of Errors, 
to send to Walpole, in order if possible to recover a part of 
what I must otherwise lose. 

7. I have sent M 1 . Knight back to Walpole, and Mr. 
Lazell with him to examine the Stock; they sat off this 
morning in a single Sley. 

9. Mr. John Knower died very suddenly with apoplexy, 
aged 70. — he did considerable work for me in painting my 
buildings. Went to Church once. 

10. Rode a little Way in the Sleigh with my Grand 
daughter Mary. 

11. Attended the funeral of M r . Knower. Visited D r . 
Paine and Judge Bangs, both unwell and confined to their 
houses. 



1 A booby hut was a sleigh with the seat and covering of a chaise or coach. 



Jan. 







Cash received. 






1. 


Of Mr. Whipple, 


5.00 


27. 


Part of the Bent due from 




7. 


At the Bank, 


54.60 




Parker, 


19.00 


8. 


Rent of M r . Howe, 


6.67 


28. 


Rent from Boston, 


250.00 


11. 


Cash of D'. Fiske, 


35.21 
Cash pa 


29. 
d away 


Rec d . money lent Grosve- 
ner. 


20.00 


3. 


Meat, 


1.19 


13. 


Paid Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 


3. 


Further Contributions 


to 


15. 


Gave Mr. Knight for Ex- 






the Well and Pumps at 




pences to Walpole, 


22.00 




the foot of Court Hill 


, 5.00 


24. 


Small articles, 


2.00 


4. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20 00 




Gleason for work, 


1.00 




Boots, 


9.00 


27. 


Sent payment for National 






Mrs. Thomas, 


2.50 




Register, 


5.00 


5. 


Contribution, 


1.00 


28. 


Paid John Knower in 




7. 


Paid Worcester Bank, 


108.15 




full, 


14.60 


9. 


My brother's wife 2, 






Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Frazer, twice, 3, 


5.00 


29. 


Sent payment for Port folio 


6.00 


10. 


Paid post office bill, 
Sent to Philosophical 


6.19 


31. 


Paid Sutton's Acc«, 

Paid Abijah Stone's order 


4.00 




Society, Philad a ' 


20.00 




on account of Mary 




11. 


Paid Miss Canady for 
Whipple. 


24.50 




Anne, 


22.60 



342 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Went to Church twice. 

18. M r . Soper, his little Son Isaiah Thomas, and Mr. 
Soper's sister Rachel, came on a visit via Leominster 
from Boston. Mr. Lazell returned from Walpole, N. H. 
He went on my business with M 1 . Knight. Mr. Davis and 
Eliza Bancroft spent the Evening. 

19. Mr. Soper, Sister and child returned to Boston. 

21. Went to Lancaster to visit my Brother. Mrs. 
Frazer went with me in the covered Sleigh — and Bragg — 
Lodged at my Brother's. 

22. After breakfast went to visit my nephew Moses 
Thomas — dined with him and returned home. 

23. Hon. Francis Blake died this Morning. He had 
been ill some time, but his death was sudden. Went to 
Church twice. 

26. Attended the Funeral of the Hon. Francis Blake. 
Spent the Evening at Judge Bangs. A man, at times 
insane, by the name of Sibley, in Milbury, murdered a 
widow, a respectable young woman, with whom he boarded. 
He is imprisoned. 

28. Mr. Knight returned from Walpole yesterday. 



Cash received. 
Feb. 7. Rec'd Pew Rent of Wind- | 9. Rec d . 1 months rent of Tan 

sor Howe for one year, 7 . 00 I Yard house, 6 . 67 







Cash paid away. 






2. 


Venison, 


2.00 




sent by M r . J. Taylor, 


of 




Sundries, 


2.00 




that place, 


40.00 


5. 


Paid M r . Heard, piling 






Paid Gleason toward 






Bricks, 


1 1 . 0.5 




Wood, 


10.00 




Paid Waldo, 


2.95 


10. 


Paid Do. Do. 


12.00 


6. 


Paid, M r . Knight to go 




12. 


Paid towards Taxes, 


100.00 




to Walpole, 


26.00 


20. 


Sundries, 


2.00 


7. 


Anne 1.. Sheldon, 


10.00 


21. 


Expenses to Lancaster, 


3.00 


8. 


1 lenjamin Swift Esq., of 






My brother, 


8.50 




St . Albans, on account of 


28. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Mis. Simmons, in a letter 












Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 343 

March, 1817. 

2. Went to Church twice. Moses Thomas brought a 
black man to prison who attempted to kill another at 
Sterling, last October, by striking and wounding him with 
an axe. 

3. Judge Bangs returned from his Circuit— Isaiah 
Thomas Andrews went on to Newyork. Visit Dr. Bancroft 
& Family. 

4. Democratic Republicans ushered in this day by 
ringing of Bells and firing Cannon, in this town. — A number 
of them dined together. 

5. Obadiah Penniman from Albany. 

6. My Granddaughter Mary went to Sterling — 
also Phebe Franklin, in the covered sleigh — M 1 . 0. 
Penniman went on to Boston. My granddaughter 
went only 4 miles and returned on account of bad 
travelling. 

8. Anne Reed came to live with us as Chamber 
maid. 

9. Went to Church twice. 

11. My Granddaughter Mary, went to a ball at M 1 '. 
Trumbull's — tarried thro' the night. 

12. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Sheriff, Jus- 
tices of the Sessions, 1 and others dined with me. Judge 
Bangs confined with Gout. 

14. Court of Com. Pleas ended. William Andrews 
went to Boston. Peter Brown came from Concord to 
see me respecting his notes, and Whipple's business. 
Abijah Bigelow 2 appointed Clerk of the Courts in this 
County. 

1 John Hooker, Chief Justice, and Edward Bangs and Jonathan Leavitt, Associate 
Justices of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas; Benjamin Kimball and Oliver Crosby, 
Justices of the Court of Sessions; and Thomas Walter Ward, Sheriff. 

2 Abijah Bigelow, the son of Elisha and Sarah Goodridge Bigelow, of Westmin- 
ster, .Mass., was graduated from Dartmouth in 1795, studied law with Samuel Dana. 



344 American Antiquarian Society, 

16. Went to Church twice. 

17. Parish meeting. D 1 . Bancroft's Salary made up to 
800 dols. as the last year. Mr. Nash cV* Wife dined 
with us. 

19. Fourteen Gentlemen spent a social Evening and 
supped with me. 

23. Went to church twice. 

25. Mrs. T. had Company — a number of Ladies, and 
Rev. Dr. Bancroft — they all tarried the Evening. 

'27. Sent M 1 '. Knight again to endeavor to recover 
from M r . W. compensation for some of the imposi- 
tions, errors, &c. in the last Stock delivered to my 
agents. He went in "Williams waggon with Aaron. Spent 
the Even g . at Judge Bangs', with Mrs. T. and my grand- 
daughter Mary. 

28. Mrs. T. dismissed Anne Reed — She has been with 
us only 3 weeks as Chambermaid. 

30. Went to Church twice. 

April, 1817. 

1. Governor Lincoln spent the Even g . with me. 

2. Miss and Mr. Bangs, jun'. spent the Evening 
with us. 



anil after his admission to the bar, in 1798, settled in Leominster. He was twice 
elected to the General Court from Leominster; represented the Worcester north 
district in Congress from 1811 to 1815; and was Clerk of the Courts for Worcester 
County from 1817 to 1833, when he resumed the practice of his profession in Worces- 
ter. On his removal to Worcester in 1817, he lived in the house formerly occupied 
by Rev. Samuel Austin, on Main street; then for a short time in the Gardiner Chand- 
lei house; and finally bought the estate at the westerly corner of Front and Spring 
streets, which was afterwards the first City Hospital. 

Mr Bigelow married, 8 April, 1804, Hannah, daughter of Rev. Francis and Sarah 
(libson Dana, of Leominster. 
[Born, Westminster, 5 December, 1775. Died, Worcester, 5 April, I860.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



345 



3. Fast day. Went to Church twice. Singing after 
the Exercises of the afternoon. 

4. Mrs. Thomas and my grand daughter Mary Rebecca 

spent the Even g . at M r . Trumbulls. 

6. Went to Church twice. 

7. Went to Town meeting — the town chose a Com ee . 
to settle with me on account of the Bridge. Fire Club 
meeting — attended it this Evening. 

8. Decision of the Supreme Court declared in the action 
brought by the first Parish to recover what is now called 
the parsonage, which I purchased of the Heirs of tta late 
Rev. M r . Maccarty. The parish recovered — I must of 
course be a considerable loser. 1 

10. Moses Thomas visit. 



'This estate, which stood at the corner of the present Park and Portland streets, 
was purchased by the town of Worcester in 1747, for a parsonage ; and in the same 
year, when Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty was ordained as minister of the town, he entered 
into possession of the premises. In 1765 the town conveyed the estate to him in 
fee, upon his releasing the town from all charges and expenses for its maintenance. 
Dr. Maccarty died in 1784, and in 1789 his executors, acting under a power of sale 
in his will, conveyed the estate to Mr. Thomas. It was held that, as the original 
grant to the town was for pious and charitable uses, and for the ministers of the 
town, it was inalienable, and the deed of 1765 was void. Abijah Bigelow and Samuel 
M. Burnside were counsel for the parish, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., for Mr. Thomas. 



Cash received. 



Mar. 10. In the Store, 4.37 

11. Borrowed of Judge Bang>, 80.00 
20. Do. at the Bank [Note ' 

465] 150.00 

26. Do. of M"-. Burnside, Note, 35.00 
29. Rec d . of the County, 10.15 



Do. Interest of the Pierce's 

mortgage, 50 . 40 

31. Do. towards Kimberley's 

Rent, 83.00 

Do. towards Rent of the 

House on Common, 5.00 







Cash paid away. 






6. 


Paid Bowen Gleason in 




21. 


Paid John Earle's bill, 


1.65 




full for Wood, 


16.50 


24. 


Paid (sent in a Letter) 




12. 


Paid Mr. David Knight, 


40.00 




to Charles Kendall, 


100.00 


14. 


Paid M'. D. Knight, 


10.00 


25. 


Paid Mr. Thomas, 


20.00 


15. 


Paid Judge Bangs part 




27. 


Mr. Knight, 


57.00 




of Money borrowed, 


30.00 


29. 


Mrs. T. 


3.00 


19. 


Sundries, family, 


8.00 


31. 


Mrs. T. 


20.00 


20. 


Paid Bank, 


5.65 









346 American Antiquarian Soci< j t;/. 

11. Moses Thomas returned home. I met the Com- 
mittee of the town, 5 persons, and settled my claim 
with them amicably, I gave in 4 years interest, and 
13 dols. 71 Cents, and agreed to wait payment another 
year without interest — Sum due me was 567 dols. 71 
cents. 

12. Judge Jackson, and M r . Morton, atty. general called 
on me. 

13. Went to Church twice. Mr. Allen- of Northboro' 
preached. 

14. Judge Bangs spent the Even 8 , with me. 

17. Began to dig the Garden. Mr. Bigelow, Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, M 1 . Strong, 1 member 
of Congress, and several other Gentlemen dined 
with me. My Grand daughter Mary had a number of 
young Ladies and Gentlemen to visit her. Tea & Evening 
party. 

19. Went with some Workmen to the East Burying 
Ground to lay out the Ground for building a Tomb of hewn 
stone. 1 



'Solomon Strong, the son of Simeon and Sarah Wright Strong, of Amherst, Mass., 
was graduated from Williams, in 179S. After his admission to the bar, he 
practised successively in Royalston, Athol and Westminster, and finally settled in 
Leominster. He was a member of the General Court in 1812 and 1813; represented 
the Worcester North District in Congress from 1815 to 1819; and was in the Massa- 
chusetts Senate in 1843 and 1844. In 1818 he was appointed a justice of the Circuit 
Court of Common Pleas for the western district of Massachusetts, and from 1821 
to 1842 was a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, 

•Judge Strong married, 20 November, 1S03, Sally, daughter of Joseph and Persis 
Miles Sweetser, of Athol, Mass. 

[Born, Amherst, 2 March, 1780. Died, Leominster, 16, September, 1850.] 

'This tomb originally stood in the northwest corner of the Mechanic street burying 
ground, near the Mechanic street entrance. When the extension of Foster street, in 
1878, necessitated the removal of the cemetery, the tomb was rebuilt in Rural Cem- 
etery; xind on 24 June, after impressive memorial services in Mechanics Hall, the 
remains of Mr. Thomas were again placed in it, with civic and Masonic honors. 

Ill'- tomb is a plain, massive structure of cut granite, thirteen feet in length, 
eleven in width and six in heighth, tike top being formed of flat stones which project 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 347 

Supreme Judicial Court ended having sat two weeks. 
Judge Jackson 1 presided. 

20. Went to Church twice. Mr. Clark, perceptor of Lei- 
cester Academy preached. Dr. Bancroft preached in Rut- 
land. 



five inches beyond the walls. Upon the door is the inscription, "Isaiah Thomas. 
Built 1817." 

The roof of the interior is arched and the walls are lined with brick. Three sides 
of the floor, which is about two and one half feet below the threshold, are occupied 
by brick receptacles for coffins, one on each side and one at the rear, each covered 
with a slate stone slab, inscribed with an epitaph. On that of Mr. Thomas, at the 
left of the door, is the inscription: — 

"ISAIAH THOMAS, ESQ., LLD. 

Author of the History of Printing; founder and 
first president of the American An- 
tiquarian Society. 
Ardently attached to the independence of his coun- 
try, his early efforts were identified with 
its cause, and through life his 
press contributed large- 
ly to the policy and 
the literature 
of his age. 
Born Jan'y 31, 1749— Died April 4, 1831 
Aged 82 years. " 

That on the opposite side contains the remains of Mrs. Thomas; and the third, 
those of Mrs. Eliza T. Knox. In the rear are also two upright tablets which formerly 
stood in Mr. Thomas's lot on Mechanic street; one, quite elaborately carved, is in 
memory of Mrs. Thomas's mother, Mrs. Rebecca Fowle; and the other to Mr. Thomas's 
mother, Mrs. Fidelity Blackman. 

'Charles Jackson the son of Jonathan Jackson, of Newburyport, Mass., was 
graduated from Harvard, in 1793, studied law with Theophilus Parsons, and was 
admitted to the Essex County Bar in 1796. In 1803 he entered into partnership 
with Judge Hubbard, in Boston. Ten years later he was appointed an associate 
justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and retained his seat upon the bench 
until 1S24. He was a member of the convention for the revision of the state con- 
stitution in 1820; was chairman of the commission to codify the laws, in 1833; and 
was influential in bringing about important legislative reforms. 

Judge Jackson was a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard from 1816 to 
1825, and a Fellow from 1825 to 1834. He received the degree of A. M. from that 
university in course, and that of LL. D. in 1821. 
[Born, Newburyport, 31 May, 1775. Died, Boston, 13 December, 1855.] 



348 American Antiquarian Society. 

22. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde spent the Evening. 

23. Sat out in the yard 5 Spruce Trees — 3 next the Court 
house, and 2 in the back yard, near the Garden Fence. Rode 
out with Judge Bangs. 

25. Went to Boston in the Stage, on the old north Road. 
Sat out at 1 °Clock, arrived at 9. Evening. 

27. Went twice to Church, at the Chapel. 

28. Visited my tomb, in north burying Ground in Boston. 
Elizabeth Smith came to live with us. Went to the Circus, 
Chariest own in the Even 8 . Walked over & back with my 
son. Phebe Franklin went to Sterling &c. with my Grand- 
daughter Mary, in the Coach. Mary returned. 

30. Returned to Worcester in the Mail Stage on the 
Turnpike. Left Boston at \ past 12 °clock. Arrived at 
Worcester at 7 °clock. 

May, 1817. 

1. Rented the 3 Story house to Capt. Earle, at 100 
dols. per annum, exclusive of the Shops. Earle to pay 
Taxes. Left off making fire in Bed Room. 

2. Attended the Funeral of Mr. Brigham. 1 Spent the 
Evening with Judge Bangs. 

3. Judge Bangs spent the Evening with us. No Fire 
in the parlor for several days. 

4. Went to church twice. 

5. Miss Lynde & Judge Bangs spent the Evening. 



1 Robert Breck Brigham, was appointed the accountant of the Worcester Bank, at 
its organization, in 1804, upon the condition that he and Levi Thaxter, the cashier, 
should "enter themselves at some Bank in the town of Boston to be instructed at 
their own expense in the duties of their respective offices by persons to be approved 
by the Directors of this Bank." He succeeded Mr. Thaxter, as cashier, in the follow- 
ing year, but ill health compelled him to resign in 1S12. He died 2 May, 1817, at 
the age of forty-one. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



349 



6. Phebe Franklin returned. 

8. Tanyard C°. met to settle some remaining business 
— did a part of it. 

9. Subcouncil of the Am. Antiq". Society met. 

10. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster in the Coach, intend- 
ing to tarry at my brother's till monday — go to Church at 
Lancaster tomorrow — and to take my brother's wife with 
her to Boston on Monday. 

11. Went to Church twice. Rev. M r . Sumner of Shrews- 
bury preached. 

12. The workmen having dug the ground in the burying 
yard, laid the Stone floor of an hewn Stone Tomb which 





Cash received. 






Apr. 1. 


In Store, 2 . 40 


18. 


Rec d . in part payment o 




4. 


Sturtevant's Estate, 10.00 




Richard P. Noyes, 


8.00 




Bass & Howe, Newhaven, 2.00 




Store, 


2.00 


8. 


Interest on mortgage — Dr. 


23. 


Pew Rent of Sikes & 






Bancroft, 33.00 




Maccarty, 


28.00 


12. 


Rec d . at the Bank, divi- 


26. 


State Bank, 


860 . 00 




dend, 375.00 


28. 


Rent Houses Centre 






Store, 2.00 




Square, 


250.00 


16. 


Rec d . tan yard dividend, 100.00 




Loan Office, 


24.66 




Rec l1 . from Philadelphia 




Union Bank, 


10.00 




A. P. S., 10.00 










Cash pai 


d away. 






1. 


Paid David Gleason 




Cash paid Pew tax, 


36.00 




sawing Wood, 13.00 


23. 


do. for 5 Spruce Trees, 


1.50 




Paid cash borrowed of S. 


24. 


Paid Frazer, 


15.00 




M. Burnside, Esq r . 35.00 


26. 


Historical Society, 






Paid John Slater & Co. bal- 




Annual Tax & Books, 


13.50 




lance, 3.95 


28. 


Williams it Preston, 




5. 


Paid, Stephen Church 10 
Cords of Wood, 23.33 




Groceries, 
Direct Tax Township 


98.00 


7. 


Paid Post office last quarter, 7.92 




No. 10 for 1816, 


8.07 




Paid Dr. Paine, 10.00 




Cyclopedia, Ree's, 


24.00 


9. 


Potatoes, 3.25 
Paid Bragg, 25.00 




Wm. Andrews, Flour, 
Paid Coverly, for I. 


20.00 


12. 


Paid Mrs. Thomas Bank 

dividend, 20.00 




Thomas & Co., 
do. West & Richardson 


150.00 


13 


Sundries, 2.00 




for do., 


511.94 


15 


PaidMiss Weld's dividend, 12.50 


29 


2 pair black Worsted 






do. Miss Armstrong, 17.50 




Hose, 


2.50 




do. Judge Bangs, remain- 




Oranges, Barber & Seeds 


, 1.25 




der of Cash borrowed, 50.00 




Circus, 


1.00 


17 


do. Wine & Sundries, 4.00 




Children, 


4.75 


18 


2 Vols. Christian Observer, 4 . 00 




Stage Fare, 


6.68 


21 


Cash, M'.Barber for Wood, 3.83 




Sundries, 


0.50 



350 American Antiquarian Society. 

they are building for me for which I am [to] pay 500 dollars. 
Worked in the Garden most of the day. 

16. Workmen raised the walls of the Tomb. Bought a 
pig 15/. Judge Bangs and Miss Lynde visit. 

17. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston. Mr. Whipple 
went off from Walpole a few days ago for Ohio. 

18. Went to Church once. Princeton Candidate 
preached. 

20. Rode southward around the Long Pond to Shrews- 
bury. Judge Bangs rode with me. Very unwell with 
a Cold. 

21. Unwell, but worked in the Garden. Mr. South- 
worth of W T alpole called on me with Harrington note given 
by Whipple which I took up. 

24. Unwell — Rode out. Spent the Even g . at Judge Bangs'. 

25. Went to Chh. twice. Miss Lynde and Judge 
Bangs spent the Even g . at my house. 

27. Snow near to and on Wachuset this Evening. 

30. My Cough continues. 

The cut worm, black and other Worms, insects of various 
Species, destructive of the Corn, Vines, fruit trees, and in 
several places to the grass. 

June, 1817. 

1. Went to Chh. twice. Rented Pew to M r . Burnside, 
the beginning of this month. 

3. Fires for the last 8 or 10 days kept in parlors, publick 
Offices &c. as is usual in March, &c. Vegetation very much 
checked— Button Woods only beginning to leaf out — have 
appeared as they now are for a fortnight past. The large 
apple tree in the Garden next the stable now in blossom — 
Cut worms very destructive to plants both in the Garden 
& Field — more than a quart of them were taken from 5 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



351 



rows of Corn in the field — they were brought home in a 
tin vessel to shew me — other worms, and various insects 
prey on vegetables. Althea just begins to put forth its 
leaves — but are scarcely discernable. The button w< >< >< 1 trees 
are just beginning to show leaves, which are yet very small. 

7. Note at bank 465 dols. Bargained for the sale of 
the paper mill at Alstead for 3000 dols. 

8. Went to Chh. twice. Rev. M 1 . Thayer of Lancaster 
preached. 

12. Fires in the parlor, &c. agreeable for the 3 days 
past. Mrs. Thomas unwell, and kept her Chamber — for the 
last 6 clays. The workmen raised and put on the large top 
stones of the Tomb. 1 



x Mr. Thomas is said to have been standing near the tomb, shortly after its com- 
pletion, when the old town sexton, Jedediah Healey, passed by. "This is a costly 
house for my poor bones to occupy when I shall have done with life, " said Mr. Thomas. 
"I have a great deal of money lying idle in this tomb." "I hope sir," was the reply, 
"that you won't lie long out of the interest of your money." 



May 







Cash received 






6. 


Reuben Wheeler, Interest 


24.00 


17. 


Rent in part, Newbury St. 






Rent of Dr. Parker, 


31. 5 




house, 


30.00 


8. 


Dividend of Tanyard, 


40.00 


19. 


Store, 


3.00 


10. 


Borrowed of Wm. Jennison 5 . 00 




Of Mr. Newton for Antia n , 






Pew Rent of Nabby Hair, 7 . 00 




Society, 


20.00 




Store, 


1.00 




Store, 


1.50 


15. 


Part rent of Wm. Man- 
ning, 


10.00 












Cash pa 


d away. 




1. 


Mrs. Thomas, Union 




17. 


Butcher and a pig, 


2.11 




Bank dividend. 


10.00 




Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 




do. Loan Office, 


90.00 


19. 


Paid for Boots, 


9.00 


3. 


Peter Rich, 2 dollars, 






Paid D r . Lincoln for 






Fish 37J, 


2.37£ 




Frazer, 


17.00 




Gloves, 


.50 


21. 


Paid towards a note of I. 




4. 


Paid Wheeler tax for the 




Thomas & C ., to Wm. 






Peace ball, 


8.90 




Harrington of Walpole 


200.00 


6. 


Paid Peter Rich ballance 




22. 


Peter Rich for ditching, 


7.00 




for Work in Garden, 


9.33 


26. 


Paid Charles Kendall for 




8. 


Oyl, 


2.00 




I. T. & C°., 


320.00 




Mrs. Thomas, pocket, 


25.00 




Phebe, 


2.00 




Bragg, 


21.00 




Paid towards Worcester 




10. 


Hat for black boy Andrew 


, 1.00 




Taxes, 


70.00 




Paid Silas Barber, 


40.00 


27. 


Paid Frazer, 


3.00 




Paid Wm. Jennison, 


5.00 




Paid Williams towards 




12. 


Paid Butcher, 


1.40 




Wall, 


4.00 


15. 


Wine, Raisins, Figs & 




29. 


Paid E. Burbank in full as 






Oranges, 


3.40 




per receipt, 


9.00 



352 American Antiquarian Society. 

14. A poor man by the name of Parker born and living 
in Marlborough in this State, died this week aged one hun- 
dred and twenty years. 

15. Dr. Bancroft went to preach this day in Rutland. 
M 1 . Foster the Minister of that place died this month. No 
meeting in consequence of our Society. — Did not go to 
Church. 

18. Went to Princeton with my Grand daughter Mary 
Rebecca Thomas. Miss Eliza Bancroft went with us, to 
the ordination of Rev. M 1 . Clarke. 1 I went at the polite 
invitation of Ward N. Boylston, Esq. with whom we dined, 
as did more than an hundred Gentlemen and Ladies on this 
occasion. Returned and got home at 6 °Clock. N. B. 
Never went from home to an ordination but once before 
and then went at the invitation of the late Gov 1 '. Gill, 30 
years ago, to Princeton, to the ordination of the Rev. M r . 
Cixits. Mr. Moses Thomas & Wife visited us. 

19. Mrs. so well as to dine below. 

20. Moses Thomas & wife returned home. Blinds put 
up to the windows in the Cupola of the Courthouse. Mrs. 
Thomas so well as to ride out. The President of the United 
States is now on a Tour through the Sea Coast of the Middle 
and Eastern States. A new Bridge is now building over 
the Long Pond on the Turnpike road to Boston. The 
floating Bridge is now entirely removed, that is it has been 
sunk to the bottom of the pond as a foundation for the 
new bridge which new bridge I think will not stand, or 
answer any valuable purpose. 

22. Went to Chh. twice. 



'Samuel Clarke, the son of Ninian Clarke, of New Boston, N. II., was graduated 
from Dartmouth in 1812. Soon after he became the master of the grammar school 
in Cambridge, and at the same time studied theology with Dr. William Ellery Chan- 
aing. He was minister of the church in Princeton from 1S17 to 1832; and of the 
first Congregational church in Uxbridge from 1S33 to 1859. 

Mr. Clarke married 13 September, 1819, Sarah, daughter of Michael and Char- 
lotte Wigglesworth of Newburyport, Mass. 
[Born, New Boston, N. H., 21 April, 1791. Died, Worcester, 19 November, 1859.] 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



35; 



24. Went to Leicester, and took with me in the Carriage 
Rev. M r . Goodrich and Rev. Brother Going, 1 and my grand- 
daughter Mary Rebecca. Masonic Festival, about 150 
Brethren and 80 Ladies walked in the procession. Dined 
in a booth sat out opposite the Academy — the Ladies dined 
in the Academy hall. Brother Bascomb delivered an Address. 
Good Music. I went by invitation of the Chapter & Lodges. 

25. Ministers' Meeting. Attended to hear the Sermon 
at Dr. Bancroft's Church. 

26. Met with the Antiq". Society. The young Ladies 
of Dr. Bancroft's Parish contributed, and with the aid of 
the elder Ladies purchased & presented the D r . with an 
elegant gown. The Gentlemen contributed and procured 
a new crimson velvet cushion and new trimmed the Desk 
and painted the pulpit. 

29. Went to Church twice. 



'Jonathan Going, ;the son of Jonathan and Sarah Kendall Going, of Reading, 
Vt., was graduated from Brown, in 1809, studied theology under President Messer, 
of that college, and was ordained in 1811. He was settled in Cavendish, Vt., from 
that time until December, 1815, when he accepted a call to the Baptist Church in 
Worcester, which, during his ministry of sixteen years, he raised from a poor and 







Cash received 






June 2. 


Borrowed of James 




11. 


Crawford's Note, 


4.13 




Wilson gave a note. 


100.00 


17. 


Borrowed of Bank for my 




4. 


Cash of Reuben Wheeler 






Son, 


400.00 




interest on Mortgage, 


24.00 


20. 


Borrowed of Col. Sikes, 


50.00 


7. 


Of Henry Rogers, ^ a pew 


21. 


Store, 


3.72 




3.50 paper 4 dols., 


7.50 


24. 


Borrowed of Bank for my- 






Borrowed of Sam 1 . Allen, 






self, 


400.00 




Esq., 


30.00 












Cash pa 


d away. 




1. 


Phin\ Maynard for hay, 


26.00 


25 


Paid S. Allen, Esq., bor- 




2. 


Paid Benj n . Swift's, order 




rowed, 


30.00 




of St. Albans, 


150.00 




Paid Col. Sikes, borrowed, 


50.00 


5. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


15.00 


26 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 


7. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 


27. 


Sundries Family, 


1.25 


8. 


Miss Anne L. Sheldon, 


30.00 


28. 


Centinel postage, 


J .00 


14. 


Family sundries, 


7.00 




Stowell, mending Cane, 




16. 


Family, 


1.00 




box, ike. 


1.25 


17. 


Pork, 


1.23 




Cleaning Watch, Goddard, 


0.75 


20. 


Paid for Walpole Co?., 


51 .35 


31. 


Frazer, 


1 .50 


• 








Sent my son June 17th, 


400 . 00 



23 



354 American Antiquarian Society. 

July, 1817. 

1. Attended the funeral of I apt. Sain 1 . Brooks, aged 
87. He was abroad on Sunday morning last, and died at 
Night. Mrs. Pease, widow, came to live with us as a house- 
keeper. Mrs. Thomas dismissed Phebe Franklin, our Cook. 

2. The President of the United States arrived in Boston 
via Rhodeisland. The greatest parade was exhibited on 
this occasion as was ever seen in the Metropolis. Dr. 
Bancroft went to Vermont. 

4. Moses Thomas of Sterling and daughter visited us. 
The Federalists and Republicans associated, in Worcester 
and its neighborhood, and' celebrated the da}- together. 
Every thing was done to the satisfaction of both parties; 
neither the oration or the Toasts gave the least offense. I 
officiated as President on this occasion being unanimously 
chosen by a meeting of both parties previously. About 300 
dined together in public, in a booth on the hill, west. 1 



struggling parish, to one of nearly five hundred members. During the first year 
of bis life in Worcester, in addition to his pastoral duties, he was a master in the 
Latin Grammar School. He was an untiring worker, not only for the betterment 
of the schools of the town, but for a higher standard of education in general. A 
man far in advance of the majority of the brethren of his denomination in scholar- 
ship and attainments, he recognized the need of a better educated clergy, and for 
the furtherance of that object, he took an active part in the establishment of the 
Newton Theological Seminary, Amherst College and Worcester Academy. 

In 1831 he made a journey to the west, partly for his health, but mainly to learn 
the religious condition of the people of the Mississippi Valley. He returned in Decem- 
ber, so impressed with the needs of that country, that he asked for dismission from 
his pastorate, to enable him to engage more directly in the work of home missions; 
and upon the organization of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, in 1832, 
he became its corresponding secretary, with his headquarters in Brooklyn, N. V. 
In 1836, he was elected president and professor of theology of Granville College, 
Ohio, which he had assisted in founding, and retained this position until his death. 

He received the degree of A. M. from the University of Vermont, in 1812 ; and that 
of D.I), from Waterville College, Maine, in 1832. He was a trustee of Brown Uni- 
versity from 1825 to 1S44. 

Dr. Going married in August, 1811, Lucy Thorndike, of Dunstable, Maes, 
[Born. Reading, Vt., 7 March, 1786. Died, Granville, O.. 9 November, 1844.] 

1 The dying out of the bitter party feeling which had existed so long, made a 
union celebration of the Fourth of July possible for the first time for fifteen years. 
The marshals of the day were Col. Thomas Chamberlain, Lieut. Col. John W. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 355 

6. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Clarke 1 preceptor, Leices- 
ter, preached and dined with me. 

7. Attended Parish Meeting & Fire Society. 

9. Rode to the Bridge. Judge Bangs went with me. 
Phebe Franklin our Cook paid and went to live with M 1 . 
Burn side. 

12. Mrs. Frazer, alias Lawrence, left our employment 
as housekeeper, and goes to Boston to live with her hus- 
band. This woman's marriage with my coachman nearly 
2 years ago, has terminated greatly to her disadvantage, and 
I fear her ruin. Mrs. Thomas and my grand daughter 
Mary Rebecca, went in the Coach this afternoon to 
Sterling. 

13. Mrs. Thomas went to Chh. in Sterling; returned 
in the afternoon leaving my grand daughter there. 
Went to Church twice. Mr. Walker, a young candidate 
preached. 

14. M r . & Mrs. Nash visited us. 

15. Post rider brought a Girl from Royalston to live 
with us. Her name Hannah Kingsley. 

17. Begun to amend and copy my Will. 

19. My grand daughter Mary returned from Sterling, 
with George and Rebecca Thomas. Judge Bangs and Miss 
Lynde spent last Evening with us. 

20. Went to Church twice. Mr. Walker preached. 



Lincoln, Major Samuel Graves, Capt. John Mower and Capt. George Moore. The 
oration was delivered by Pliny Merrick, in the South Meeting House, and an ode by 
Edward D. Bangs, was sung by Capt. Sewall Hamilton. The dinner was served in 
a bower on the hill opposite the Central Hotel. Mr. Thomas presided, assisted by 
Edward Bangs, Dr. Oliver Fiske, Thomas W. Ward and Levi Lincoln, Jr., as vice- 
presidents. 

1 Josiah Clark was graduated from Williams in 1S09, and in the same year became 
the English preceptor at Leicester Academy. He was its principal from 1812 to 
March, 1818, when he was settled over the Congregational church in Rutland. 
[Bora, Northampton, Mass., 7 March, 17S5. - Died, Rutland, Mass., 11, July, 1845) 



356 American Antiquarian Soviet;/. 

23. Circus opened — the Riders arrived. 1 

24. Having written a new will I published and declared 
it, Arc. this day. A Lyon, Tj^ger and other wild animals 
Exhibited in Worcester. Dr. Bancroft returned from Vermont. 

27. Went to Church twice. 

28. Went to the Circus — most of the Ladies & Gentle- 
men were present — as was my grand daughter Mary Rebecca 
— It was West's Company — the performance very good. 

31. Went to Boston in the Coachee — dined at Eaton's. 



August, 1817. 

2. Walked over to Charlestown. 

3. Returned to Worcester accompanied by my daughter 
in law — dined at Weston's. Arrived at 4 °Clock. Hired Mr. 
Wra. Jennison for a few months to take care of my book stock. 



1 This was West's circus of performing horses, which was advertised to open on 
Mechanic street near the South Meeting House, "under the patronage of The Presi- 
dent of the United States, who honoured the Performance with his presence at 
Mr. West's Circus, Charlestown, near Boston, on Thursday the 3d of July, 1817." 
In addition to feats of horsemanship, there was tight and slack rope dancing by 
Mr. and Mrs. Williams. The price of boxes for the performance was one dollar, 
and admission to the pit was fifty cents. This was the first circus to be exhibited 
in Worcester. 



July 







Cash received. 






5. 


In the Store, 


4.50 


25. 


Rec d . towards Leather 




1. 


Rent from Boston, 


125.00 




of N. Maccarty, 


LOO. 00 






Cash paid away. 






1. 


Towards Celebration, July 




Do. Mr. Thaxter for 1 bar- 






4, 


2.00 




rel Cyder, 


2.50 


2. 


Sundries-family, 


1.00 


12. 


Do. Frazer, 


4.00 




Darby, 


5.00 


15. 


Do. Tucker, 


2.70 


4. 


Ticket for Celebration, 


1.27 


16. 


Do. Salt & Sundries, 


2.50 


5. 


Paid Phebe Franklin oui 




22. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Cook, 


16.00 


23. 


Paid Hannah Kinsley's 




7. 


Sundries, house, 


1.00 




passage, 


2.17 


8. 


Paid remainder of Taxes 






Postage, 1 quarter, 


7.42 




to M r . Gleason, 


8.41 


27. 


Paid for Silk for small 




9. 

0. 


Paid Phebe Franklin, 
Paiil Wilson towards 


.50 




clothes. 
Circus Ticket 1 dol. & 1 for 


5.25 




Bricks, 


20.00 




black boy, 


1.25 




do. for Pork, 


2.45 


31. 


Expenses to Boston, 


1.50 






Dku'?/ of Isaiah Thomas. 357 

6. M 1 . William Jennison 1 arrived in the Stage from 
Boston. 

7. Left Worcester for Walpole, N. H. in my own 
Carriage, accompanied by M 1 . Knight & M r . Jennison. 
dined in Temple ton — lodged in Fitz William. 

8. Breakfasted at Fitzwilliam — after the Rain went on 
to Walpole — arrived at 4 "Clock, afternoon. 

9. Had an interview with Whipple. 

10. Went h day to Chh. in Walpole. Went down to 
the River — crossed over the Bridge to Vermont. Got the 
Kesper of the toll gate to Shave me. 

11. Began the disagreeable settlement with Whipple 
with 3 of his own friends — none of my own present. 

12-13-14. Engaged in the same business finished, and 
they awarded me 1450 dollars, fully convinced were they 
of the dishonesty of Whipple & his infamous conduct 
towards me. Sat out for Worcester in the afternoon — got 
as far as Troy, N. H. with Mr. Knight — Left Mr. Jennison 
at Walpole. Anne L. Sheldon returned to Smithfield. 

15 Reached home — having rode 50 miles in the carriage 
after 8 °Clock in the morning. 

17. Mr. Allen of Northboro' preached — went to Church 
twice. 

20. Mrs. Pease and Bragg went to Shrewsbury in the 
Chaise. 

22. Went to Boston, in the Coachee with my son's wife 
and my Grand daughter Mary Rebecca. Went the old 
north road to Watertown and then through Brookline & 
Roxbury. Dined at Sudbury Cause way. 



1 William Jennison, the son of Samuel and Sally Fiske Jennison of Brookfield, 
Mass., was for many years an assistant in the office of the Clerk of the Courts for 
Worcester county. He married, 22 August, 1825, Mary Lynde, daughter of Theo- 
philus and Elizabeth Lynde Wheeler, of Worcester. 
[Born, Brookfield, 10 January, 1790. Died, Worcester, 27 August, 1866.] 



358 American Antiquarian Society. 

24. Rain most of the day. Did not go to Church. 
Dined with E. T. Andrews. 

25. Rode in the Carriage to Jamaica Plains. 

2C>. Rode to Cambridge & to Gen. Hull's in Newton. Saw 
Frazer. She came to Boston in the afternoon. In the afternoon 
went to Dorchester with M r . E. T. Andrews in his Carriage. 

27. Attended Commencement at Cambridge. My Grand 
daughter Mary Rebecca went with me in our carriage. 
Was Q\ hours in the meeting house. Dined in Dr. Bancroft's 
son George's rooms. Visited M r . Step". Salisbury's son's 
room 1 — large Company. Paid my respects to the Governour, 
Lieut. Gov 1 '., President of the University, several of the 
Council, &c. Returned to Boston with my Grand daughter, 
Miss Eliza Bancroft & Mr. Merrick in our Carriage. 2 



1 Stephen Salisbury roomed at Captain Dana's, with William P. Cabot (1818) and 
Henry Upham (1819). 

1 George Bancroft's Commencement part was an English oration "On the dignity 
and utility of the philosophy of the Human mind.'' Another part was a conference 
"On the influence of the peace upon the condition of the agriculturist, the manu- 
facturer, the merchant, and the professional man," by Moses Kelly Emerson, John 
Orne Green, Samuel Hart and Stephen Salisbury. The salutatory oration was deliv- 
ered in Latin, by Caleb Cushing. 

"It. is our duty to remark" said the Columbian Centinel, "that the mass of the per- 
formances was calculated to add to the already exalted reputation of this ancient 
and growing seminary. The improvement in elocution and style, as well as in pro- 
found learning, and useful science, were particularly noticed. There was less wit 
and humor in the performances — and of course less boisterous applause — than we 
have heard on former occasions; but the qualification of the learned and the judicious 
— an object of much more importance — was conspicuous in their silent attention, 
and in the smiles which lit up the countenance of a crowded auditory of both sexes. 
Hearty plaudits, however, were not withheld from many of the parts particularly 
the oration, on 'the dignity and utility of the philosophy of the mind' — the other English 
oration and some of the forensics. " 

Rev. Dr. John Pierce, of Brookline, in his notes on the Harvard Commencements, 
Mass. Hist. Soc. Pro., (Second Scries, v. HIT) writes of the exercises: — "The day was 
fine. The exercises commenced precisely at 10 A. M. . . Bancroft's oration on 
the philosophy of the human mind did him great honour. . . . Large enter- 
tainments were given by Winthrop, Coolidge and Salisbury. The latter invited my 
family. " 

George Bancroft also received in his senior year, a second Bowdoin prize for a 
tation on "The use and necessity <>/ Revelation" 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 359 

28. Returned to Worcester, accompanied by Miss Han- 
nah Weld. 

31. Went to Church twice. 

Cost of the Tomb in the East Burying yard, which I 
built this year of hewn Stone, arched with Brick inside 
Five hundred sixty four dollars and seventy two Cents. 
The extra work, more than first intended, inside cost 64.72. 

September, 1817. 

1. Circuit Court of Com. Pleas begun. 

2. Attended Court, 

3. do. Mr. William Jennison, who went with me to 
Walpole returned from that place, having packed up all the 
Book Stock which I had there, in order to bring it to this place. 

4. Mr. Jennison began taking an ace 1 , of Stock in the 
Store here. Moses .Thomas, visit. Attended Court. 

5. Rode out with Mr. Thomas and Miss Weld — Crossed 
the new pond Bridge. 







Cash received 






Aug. 2. 


Of Thomas & Andrews, 
Towards Rent Newburj 


400.00 


25. 


Interest, Loan Office, 
Towards Rent Newbury 


12.35 




Street house, 


30.00 




Street house, 


20.00 




Rent of another house, 


125.00 


27. 


Of Company, Boston, 




16. 


At Walpole, 


10.00 




Cash, 


2,850.55 


19. 


Cash of M r . Manning, 


10.00 




Of do public Stock, 


6,000.00 






Cash pa 


d away, 




Aug. 1. 


My Note, Whitman, 


120.00 


19. 


Mrs. Pease, 


5.00 




Cyclopedia, 


24.00 


22. 


Teaming from Walpole, 


21.00 




Flour, 


20.00 




Paid Bragg, 


20.00 




Children, 


5.00 




Mrs. Munroe, 


30.00 




Lemons, 


1.00 




Williams & Preston, 


51.00 


3. 


Expenses to Worcester, 


3.37 




Stockings, Cotton Cloth, 


&c 


4. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




&c, 


6.25 




Paid Darby towards 




26. 


Barber, Coffee, &c, 


3.67 




building Tomb, 


100.00 


28. 


Expenses, horses & Coach 






Mrs. Simmons, 


75.00 




man, 


13.50 


6. 


Paid Worcester Bank, 


168.00 




do. on the road, 


6.15 


16. 


Expenses to & from 




29. 


Paid Worcester Bank, 


801.50 




Walpole, 


43 . 60 




Mrs. Thomas, 


30.00 




Paid Gen. Allen at Wal- 






Children, &c, 


3.75 




pole, 


255.50 


30. 


Samuel Wilson, jun r . t 


50.00 


18. 


Sundries, familyA: postage, 1.50 









360 American Antiquarian Society. 

6. Mr. Soper called on us, on his way from Newyork. 
Rode out. Circuit Court of Common Pleas ended. Two 
loads of Books from Walpole. 

7. Went to Chh. twice. 

8. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde in the Evening. 

9. Evening at Judge Bangs'-s. 

10. Went to Lancaster to visit my Brother. Lodged 
at my brother's. 

11. Went from my Brother's to my nephew's in Sterling 
— dined with him and returned home. Bible Society met 
in Worcester. Sermon by M r . Puffer. Received 6 Loads 
of Book Stock from Walpole within the last 10 days. 

13. Received 1 Load, 4 boxes of Walpole Stock. Mr. 
Eben'r T. Andrews and Wife from Boston, visited us. 

14. Went to Church twice. Mr. Willington 1 of Temple- 
ton preached. Made Fires in both parlors. 

15. M 1 . Andrews, his wife and Miss Hannah Weld 
returned to Boston — Judge Bangs went to Portland. 

18. Rode to the Bridge over the Long Pond — The Work- 
men supposed they had finished it two months ago, and I 
then passe cl over it in the Carriage — it has ever since been 
sinking, and giving way, especially at the East end, and 
is now impassable, although the workmen have been contin- 
ually employed in raising it with timber, Earth & Stones, 
it sinks and gives way faster than they can raise it. 

19. As I feared so it has happened — the Bridge mentioned 
above gave way this morning, and the whole entirely 
destroyed. 50 men were employed all summer in building 
it, and has cost the proprietors about 10,000 dollars — my 
loss will not be less than 500 dollars. The plan of the bridge 
was a bad one. I was opposed to it, from the beginning 
believing it would not stand. The bridge preceding it was 



1 Rev. Charles Wellington, minister of the church in Templeton, from 1807 to 1861. 



Diary of Isaiah. Thomas. 361 

a floating one, but badly constructed. A good floating 
bridge for this place I think will be the best we can have. 1 

A number of Gentlemen met to consult on the expediency 
of making a Dinner for the Governor, on the 2 d of next 
month, he being then expected to pass thro' town from 
reviewing a brigade of militia at Oxford on his way to review 
a brigade at Lancaster. I was Chairman of the meeting 
and Chairman of the Comm ee . chosen to take the matter 
into Consideration, &c. Miss Lynde spent the Even 8 , with 
us. Dr. Bancroft returned from Maine. 

20. Training. 

21. Went to Church twice. Mr. Capron preached. My 
son, and my grandsons Isaiah and William, came up from 
Boston. 

22. Committee, &c. for providing a dinner to be given 
the Governor, met, reported, &c. Com ee . of Arrangements 
chosen — I was chosen Chairman. 

23. Received 12 boxes of books from Walpole for 
which I paid Forty eight dollars at 6/ per Cwt. Met 
twice with the Com ee . of Arrangements, respecting a 
dinner for the Governor. Supreme Court in session in 
this Town. 

25. One Sibley of Millbury tried for the murder of a 
woman, but acquitted on account of supposed derangement. 
Went to Providence to see my old friend M 1 . William God- 
dard, now 77 years of age, and very infirm. Lodged at his 
house. My man, carriage and horses I sent to the hotel. 
Called on Miss Sheldon. 

26. Visited several gentlemen of my acquaintance in 
Providence. Had several invitations to dine. Drank tea 
with Wm. Wilkinson, Esq. 



1 There is a tradition that a number of Worcester men drove to the tavern, which 
stood near the causeway, on the Shrewsbury side of the lake, to celebrate the com- 
pletion of the bridge with a dinner. When they came out of the tavern, the bridge 
had disappeared, and they were obliged to return by the old road. 



362 



American Antiquarian Society. 



27. Returned to Worcester. Called again on Miss Anne 
L. Sheldon as I passed through Sniithfield. 

28. Went to Church twice. 

29. Attended the Com 66 , for the public Dinner for the 
( rovernour. 



October, 1817. 

1. The Governor and his suite arrived in town from 
Oxford, where he had been to review a brigade. Waited 
on the Gov 1 ', at Sike's Inn. 

2. Governor and his suite called on me. Waited on the 
Governor, who called on several Gentlemen in the Street, 
at their houses. Dined with the Governour at Hathaway's 
Inn, at a public dinner given on the occasion by a number 
of gentlemen of Worcester, who subscribed three dollars 
each — 36 subscribers — Dinner cost 100 dollars. In the after- 
noon the Governour went to Lancaster to review to-morrow a 
brigade in that place. — Judge Bangs returned from Portland. 

3. Bragg, our Coachman, and Jennison, my Clerk, went 
to Lancaster & returned. Members of Dr. Bancroft's Chh. 



Cash received. 



Sept. 1. Of M r . Maccarty, towards 

leather sold, 100.00 

6. In St.no, (i.00 

11. Rent in part for place in 

Paxton, 
13. From Store, 
20. Store. 



25.00 
0.75 
4.50 
Cash paid away 



23. 



Rent Newbury Street 
house, 

Cash from my son, 

Interest from D r . Ban- 
croft, 

In the Stoic, 



1. Hon. Asa Aldis of Ver- 

mont for Taxes, Arc, on 
the place where my 

daughter lived, 41 .00 

2. Paid Sheriff I'pham for 

James Williams, 6 . 00 

6. James Williams, Lent, 2.00 

8. Painting Perch to Coach, 1.00 

9. Sundries, 2.00 
1 1 I Expenses to Lancaster, 1 .60 

My 1, rot her, 1 1 ,00 

12. Paid Darby, 75.00 

I i eighl from Boston, 1 .76 



13. Do. from Walpole, 
15. Paid Wilson towards 
Bricks, 
Mrs Pease, 

22. Paid Pamphlets, 
Paid Hannah, 

23. Paid Worcester Hank, 
Paid freight from Walpole 

7. Expenses to Providence, 
Anne Sheldon, 
Mrs. Thomas, 
29. Paid Baton Revenue Col- 
lect'., Direct Tax, 



30.00 
400.00 



33 . 00 
10.75 



16.00 

25.25 

1.00 

1.12 

1.00 

300.00 

40.00 
7.50 
5.00 
9.00 

53.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 363 

met and chose Mr. Jeremiah Robinson 1 a Deacon in the room 
of D". Hurd, 2 who has joined the Chh. of the south parish. 
Dr. Bancroft, Mrs. Bancroft, and Mrs. Putnam and son 
visited us. 

5. Went to Church twice. 

Earthquake. A very considerable Shock this forenoon 
whilst at Church, at about half past eleven "Clock; its direc- 
tion appeared to be nearly from West to East. 

6. Met at Bank — Stockholder's meeting — met with a 
number of the Turnpike Proprietors at Sikes's. Met with 
the Fire Club at Sikes's. 

7. Mr. Campbell, Lady & son, and Mr. Chambers, of 
Xewyork, arrived, and resided with me, on a friendly visit. 

8. Met the Turnpike Stockholders assembled at the 
East side of the Pond. Rode out with M 1 . & Mrs. Camp- 
bell, &c. &c. 



1 Jeremiah Robinson, for many years an apothecary and druggist in Worcester, 
served his apprenticeship with Dr. Elijah Dix, with whom he was afterwards in part- 
nership, until the latter's retirement from business, in 1S07. His house and store 
were in the building south of the Dix house, at the head of School street. The latter 
part of his life was spent with one of his children, in Boston. 

Mr. Robinson married, 17 November, 1791, Mary, daughter of George and 
Catharine Stevens, of Worcester. 
[Born, Oakham, Mass, 1764. Died, Boston, Mass., 7 September, 1849.] 

' Nathan Heard, the son of Nathan and Anna Heard, succeeded his father as the 
keeper of the jail and jail tavern at Lincoln Square, in 1812, and held this position 
until his resignation in 1822. In 1823 he engaged in business as a dealer in West 
India goods and general merchandize at the old "Green Store," where he was in 
partnership successively with William Manning, Jr., James Estabrook and George 
M. Rice. He was afterwards in the Boston Custom House for several years. General 
Heard was always active in the militia, rising through the different grades to the 
rank of major-general; and was the second lieutenant of the Worcester Artillery 
Company, which marched to the defense of Boston, in 1814. He was chief engineer 
of the Worcester Fire Department from its organization in 1835 to 1S40; and repre- 
sented W'oreester in the General Court from 1S37 to 1839. 

General Heard married Ruth Bollis of Braintree, Mass.. who died a few years 
later; and 24 March, 1819 he married her niece Rachel, daughter of Nathaniel and 
Mary White, of Braintree. 
[Born, Worcester. 25 March, 1790. Died. Worcester, 9 September, 1878.] 



364 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Went to Boston with Mr. & Mrs. Campbell & son, 
and Mr. Chambers, in two Carriages. Lodged with M r . 
Andrews whilst in Boston. M r . Campbell, etc. put [up] at 
-Mrs. Delano's boarding house. 

10. Waited on Mr. & Mrs. Campbell &c. about Boston. 
All dined with Mr. Andrews tfc Rode to Cambridge and 
Charlestown in the afternoon — and all went to the Theatre 
in the Evening. 

11. I returned to Worcester. 

12. Went to Church twice. 

13. Mrs. Thomas went to Lancaster. 

14. Mrs. T. returned home with my brother's wife. 

15. Rode out with Mrs. Thomas and my Brother's wife. 
Miss Lynde & Judge Bangs visit. 

17. Gathered in Corn from Field. Spent the Even- 
ing with Mrs. T. & Mrs. T. of Lancaster with Judge Bangs. 

19. Went to Church twice. 

20. My brother's wife returned home. Went with Bragg 
in a Chaise. Began to gather in Indian Corn from the 
Field — it is much injured by Frosts. 

22. Dr. Bancroft went to Boston to attend annual meet- 
ing of the Am. Antiq". Society. I could not attend this 
meeting. 

25. Having been chosen by the Court of Common Pleas 
at their last Session, with Judge Paine and Levi Lincoln 
jun. Esq. to alter the Court room I consulted with an artist 
on the subject, and examined a plan. 

26. Did not go to Church, neither did Mrs. T. Dr. 
Bancroft returned from Boston. 

Died, Capt. Henry Bancroft, son of the Rev. Dr. Bancroft. 

27. Went to Boston in the Stage. 

28. Attended Turnpike Com"'. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



365 



29. Attended Turnpike Corporation meeting. Made 
report as Chairman of the Committee. 

28. 29. Dined both days at Concert hall, with the Com- 
mittee of the Turnpike Corporation. 

29. Went to the Theatre. Gov 1 '. Brooks was present. 

30. Dined with M r . Samuel Armstrong. 

31. Returned home in the Mail Stage. 

November, 1817. 

2. Rain all day. Went to Chh. in the afternoon; very 
few people there. 



Oct. 



Oct. 







Cash received 






3. 


Of Tyler Goddard, of 






Rent in Boston, 


125.00 




Paxton for rent, 


10.00 


11. 


In Store, 


3.25 


4. 


Store, 


2.00 


17. 


Store, 


3.16 


6. 


Of Noyes for Rent, 


S.00 


21. 


Received from Newyork 




10. 


Dividend at State Bank 






for Thomas & Andrews, 


135.00 




4 per Ct., 


48.00 




Store, 


1.87 




Interest at Loan Office 




27. 


Mr. Manning, 


17.00 




for 3 months, 


110.02 


30. 


Loan Office for Mrs. T., 


2.32 




Mrs. T's. interest at 




31. 


My son, 


6.00 




Union Bank, 


14.00 




From M r . Nash, Chilicothe, 


45.00 






Cash pa 


d away. 




3. 


For apples, 


2.00 




for digging up and re- 






For public dinner yester 






moving to the Tomb 






day, 


3.00 




the remains of my 






Wine, 


1.75 




Mother and Mrs. Thom- 




6. 


Paid Mrs. Thomas, Wor- 






as's Mother, 


15.00 




cester bank div. 


10.00 


17. 


Paid Wm. Jennison, 


10.00 


8. 


Paid for my daughter's 




IS. 


Paid Rich for levelling 






son to the Doctor, 


47.00 




gravel at the Tomb, 


3.00 


9. 


Expenses, 


0.75 


21. 


Dr. Bancroft, 


10.00 


11. 


Horse keeping & Coach 






Hannah our Cook, 


7.00 




man, 


4.10 




Paid Mrs. Thomas, bor- 






Expenses on the Road, 


1.50 




rowed, 


15.00 




Paid Mrs. Thomas her 




22. 


Miss Sheldon, 


20.00 




bank dividend, 


14.00 


23. 


Paid Eph m . Mower, 


20.00 




do. do. Worcester do., 


20.00 


27. 


Paid Darby (15 from Man- 






do. for family, 


3.50 




ning), 


50.00 




do. Mr. Weld, 


12.50 




Miss Armstrong, Bank 






Theatre, myself & Grand 






dividend. 


17.50 




daughters, 


4.00 




Passage in Stage, 


3.00 




Horse brush, &c. 


1.27 


30. 


Sundries in Boston, 


5.00 


13. 


Mrs. Thomas for family, 


50.00 




Grandchildren, 


5.25 




Darby & Family, 


2.10 


31. 


My daughter sent by her 






Postage bill, 


6.31 




brother, 


35.00 


15. 


Cash paid Maj r . J. Hely 






Passage home, 


3.50 



366 American Antiqitarian Society. 

4. Replaced 5 Spruce Trees about the yards of the 
House which were dead, and planted two more — & planted 
also 2 Elm trees on Court hill to replace two which had 
died. 

5. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde, Even g . Visit. 

8. Mrs. Seaver dined with us. 

9. Rev. Mr. Nash preached, the first time for two 
years past. Went to Church twice. 

10. Rode out. 

14. Miss Anne Sheldon visited us with her friend Mr. 
Buffum. Dismissed M\ Wm. Jennispn. 

15. Wm. Jennison went to Boston. 

16. M 1 . Cotton preached. Went to Church once? Mrs. 
Thomas unwell. Had a physician. Keeps her Chamber. 

17. Wrote to Step u . Ross, Esq 1 . 

19. Went to Boston in the small coach, with Bragg, 
left Worcester near one °Clock having dined early; arrived 
in Boston half past 9 °Clock in the Evening. 

20. Attended annual Meeting of Worcester Turnpike 
Corporation. Went to the Theatre with four of my grand 
daughters, and my son and his wife — Play very indifferent, 
and a thin house. 

21. Attended the adjourned Meeting of the Turnpike 
corporation. Dined with M r . Andrews. 

22. Returned to Worcester. 

23. Mr. Packard preached. Went to Church once. Mrs. 
Thomas came below stairs today — has kept her Chamber 
all the past week. 

24. Had an ill flatulant turn. 

25. Had ditto, took Physick. Had the Doctor. 

26. Mrs. Thomas rode out. Mrs. Seaver visit. 



Diary of Isaiah Tim mas. 



3c; 



27. My Brother visit, 

28. Mrs. Seaver visit. 

29. My brother returned home. 

30. Went to Chh. twice. Mr. Newton hired the pew 
Col. Sikes occupied. 

December, 1817. 

1. My Grand daughter Augusta, came from Sterling 
with my nephew's son and daughter. 

4. Thanksgiving — Went to Church — Wm. Andrews, My 
grand daughter Augusta and Rebecca Thomas, daughter 
of my nephew, of Sterling, dined with us. 

7. Went to Chh. twice. M 1 . Allen preached. Col. Lovell 1 



1 Colonel Ebenezer Lovell came to Worcester some years before the Revolution, 
and settled on a farm of about two hundred acres, in the south-westerly part of the 
town, lying on both sides of Mill Brook. He was one of the original members of the 







Cash received. 






. 1. 


Cash, Store, 


6.30 


7. 


do. 


5.16 


5. 


Of Messrs. Pierce, West- 






Rent in Boston, Mr. 






boylston, 


50.00 




Thompson, 1 quarter, 


125.00 




For appraising Lincoln's 




14. 


Store, 


.87 




Estate, 


1.50 


19. 


Rec d . from the Bank, 


60.00 




Store, 


11.00 
Cash pa 


25. 
d away. 


Cash of M r . Maccarty, 


100.00 


. 1. 


Mrs. Thomas, from 




17. 


Paid for teaming from 






Loan Office, 


10.00 




Walpole, 


28.00 


4. 


For Trees, 


1.25 




Butcher, & Oil &c. 


2.50 




Sundries, 


1.25 




Wood, 


2.67 


5. 


Paid Bragg's fine for not 


19. 


Mrs. Parker, 


2.00 




training. 


2.00 




Cups for the Church. 


20.00 




Gloves, 


1.00 




Sundries for the family, 


8.00 


6. 


Paid Mower for Wilson 




20. 


Casts in Plaster, 


12.00 




towards Bricks, 


26.47 




Expenses to Boston, 


8.25 


7. 


Paid Miss E. Bancroft 






Grand Children, 


4.50 




for Mrs. Frazer alias 






Sundries, 


2.00 




Lawrence, 


20.00 




Beef, 


3.00 




Sundries & Mrs. Thomas 


2.00 


26. 


Paid Miss Kennedy, Jen- 






Repairing Glass windows 




nison's board, 


29.00 




of a house in Boston, 


7.75 


27. 


Paid 


28.75 


10. 


Dr. Green, 3 M. Shingles, 


10.50 




Mrs. Thomas, family, 


20.00 




Paid Jennison, 


5.00 


29. 


My brother, 


3.00 


11. 


Paid Interest to White 






Wood, 


2.00 




for Simmons, 


6.00 




do. 


14.00 


14. 


Paid Wm. Jennison, 


10.00 




Sawing W 1, 


2.00 



368 American Antiquarian Society. 

an aged inhabitant buried to-day; he died on Thursday 
last. 

8. Dr. Bancroft & family — visit. 

9. Mrs. Legate & Miss Calef, from Leominster came 
to visit us. Killed a Hog. 

11. Mrs. Legate and Miss Calef returned to Leominster. 
Moses Thomas — visit. 

12. Moses Thomas & daughter returned home. 

16. Rather unwell for two Days past. 

18. Directors of Library Comp y . meet at Rev. Dr. 
Bancrofts. 

21. Went to Chh. twice. 

23. Wm. Goddard, Esq. Printer, of Providence Died, 

aged 77. 

24. Subcouncil Am. Antiq". Society met at my house as 
usual 

2."). Sermon preached by Dr. Bancroft at his Church. 
Assembly at Hathaway's — my grand daughter Augusta 
invited and attended. 

27. Collected for Communion Table N°. Church 38 
dollars. 

28. Went to Chh. twice. Notice given by Dr. Bancroft 
that next Sunday there will be a Collection towards building 
a general^Hospital in Boston. 

30. Mrs. Seaver came to visit us for several days. 



American Political Society, an organization formed by the Whigs of Worcester, in 
December, 1773, to control the affairs of the town, and especially the actions of !he 
Loyalist party; and was one of the committee of inspection appointed by the society, 
in 1774, to examine the merchants and traders of the town at intervals, to prevent 
the sale of imported goods, contrary to its "solemn league and covenant." He was 
ensign in Captain Benjamin Flagg's company, which marched to Lexington, 19 April, 
1 775. Colonel Lovell represented Worcester in the General Court in 1777, and was a 
..an in 177S, 1779 and 1784. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



369 



31. Girls in the Kitchen out all night at a Dance 4 miles 
from home. 







Cash received. 






Dec. 2. 


At the Bank, 


17.25 


19. 


Tanyard remains in part 


60.00 


12. 


Of Judge Bangs, bor- 




22. 


Received from my Son to- 




rowed, 


20.00 




wards his debt to M 


r. 


15. 


At the Bank, 


143.00 




Wheeler, 


100.00 


16. 


At the Bank, 


100.00 


26. 


From the Bank, 


524.00 






Cash paid away. 






Dec. 2. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


5.50 


22. 


Paid Theop s . Wheeler 






Porter for wood, 


3.00 




for my son, 


252.00 




Hannah Kingsley, 


3.00 


23. 


Paid White for D r . Sim- 




12. 


Ducks, 


.92 




mons, 100. Interest pai< 




13. 


Paid Porter for Wood, 


20.00 




for 10 years 6%, 


162.00 


15. 


Paid Wilson's order, 


143.00 


24. 


Mending Tongs — Stowell 


1.00 


16. 


Paid William Jennison, 


50.00 


25. 


Pd Deacon Trowbridge 






Medicine brush, 


1.50 




for 3 barrels Cyder, 


6.00 


17. 


Hannah, Kingsley, 


10.00 


26. 


Pd. T. Wheeler, Esq r . my 




, 


E. Mower for Bricks, 


26.00 




Notes due D. Brown's 




18. 


Missionary Subscription, 


4.00 




Estate, 


524.74 




Teaming, 


1.50 




Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 


19. 


Paid Judge Bangs which 




27. 


Paid Gates towards wooc 


, 5.00 




I borrowed, 


20.00 
GIFTS- 


29. 
-1817. 


Loaned D. Benson, 


25.00 


Jan. 1 . 


Phebe Franklin, a Bible 


1.00 


28. 


Children, 


3.00 


15. 


To sundry persons, 


10.00 




Frazer, bonnet, 


3.50 


Feb. 3. 


Ch., 


2.00 


Sept.12. 


Ch., 


2.00 


14. 


Ch., 


1.00 




Paid for my daughter, 


41.00 


Mar. 


Ch. &c, 


5.00 


18. 


Bible Society, Bibles, 


30.00 


26. 


Do. and my daughter, 


78.00 


24. 


Grandson, Isaiah Thoma 


i, 2.00 


Apr. 10. 


Rebecca Parker, my niece, 5 . 00 




Ch., 


1.00 




Ch., 


2.00 


Oct. 


Ch., 


2.00 


29. 


Antiq™. Society, 


93.00 


13. 


My brother. 


10.00 


May 


do. 


259 . 50 


21. 


Sundries, my brother, 


2.00 




Ch., 


1.00 




Do. Mrs. Pease, Coat, 


4.00 




Paid for my daughter, 


150.00 




My daughter in August 


75.00 




Sent to M r . Swift for 






Ch., 


1.00 




my daughter, 


80.00 


29. 


Ch., . 


2.00 


June 12. 


Ch. 


1.50 


Nov.ll. 


Sundry persons, 


10.00 




Antiq 11 . Society, 


201.00 


22. 


Sundry persons, 


1.50 




G. daughter, 


5.00 


Dec. 3. 


Sundry persons, Charity, 


10.00 


20. 


Medical Society, 


15.00 


6. 


Ch., 


1.00 


26. 


Towards Powder for 4th 




9. 


Charity. 


2.00 




July, 


2.00 


11. 


My brother, 


2.00 




Ch., 


.50 




Sundry persons, 


1.50 


July 


Sundry persons, Charity, 


30.00 


27. 


No. Church, Table, 


8.00 


Aug. 


Sundry persons do. 


21.00 




Bragg, Dictionary, 


1.00 




TOWN, STATE, COUNTY A? 


ID PARISH TAX FOR 1817. 




Town. 




94. S3 


Ball on ace* of Peace, 


9.00 


State & County, 


37.74 


National Tax on land in Worcester, 


53.00 


Parish, (Minister) 


45 . 24 ! 


do. on 


Carriages, 


10.00 


Pew Tax 


do, 


40.00 


Other pi 


ices than Worcester, 


30.00 


Taxes in 


Boston, say 


50.00 


Tax for 


removing Centre School 




Taxes else where, 


45.00 


house about a rod, 


25.00 


Highwa> 


— Worcester, 


52.00 










Turnpike 




285.00 




776.81 




24 











370 American Antiquarian Society. 

January, ISIS'. 

1. Rev. Dr. Bancroft and wife — visit. Tarried till late 
in the Evening. Mrs. Seaver continues her visit. 

2. Nath 1 . Maccarty, Esq 1 , and wife — visit. Spent the 
Evening. Wrote Mrs. Goddard, of Providence Dec 1 . 27, 
on the Death of her husband, my friend Wm. Goddard, 
Esq. aged 79. 

4. Went to Church twice. Contribution this day at 
the several Societies in this Town for building a General 
Hospital. 1 Sum collected, 



1 At the beginning of the nineteenth century there was no hospital in Boston for 
the treatment of general disease, though such institutions were already established 
in New York and Philadelphia. A bequest of five thousand dollars under the will 
of William Phillips, in 1804, was the real beginning of such an enterprize; but it was 
not until the summer of 1810 that active measures were taken to supply its want. 
20 August of that year Dr. James Jackson and Dr. John Collins Warren issued a 
circular letter addressed to some of the most influential citizens of Boston and its 
neighborhood, asking for subscriptions for "a hospital for the reception of lunatics 
ami other sick persons." 

\> a result of this letter, 25 February, 1811, fifty-six men were incorporated under 
the name of the "Massachusetts General Hospital." The charter granted to it, 
in addition, the fee simple of the old "Province House," upon the condition that 
one hundred thousand dollars should be subscribed by individuals within ten years. 
It was also helped in various other ways by the state. By a special resolve of the 
General Court, in 1817, the stone for the building was hammered by the convicts 
of the State Prison, in Charleston. Later, the charters of the Massachusetts Hos- 
pital Life Insurance Company, in 1818; of the New England Mutual Life Insurance 
Company, in 1835; of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company, of Worcester, in 
1844; anil of the Bowditch Mutual Life Insurance Company, in 1845, required that 
they should pay one third of their net profits to the hospital. 

\t their firsl meeting, 23 February, 1813, the trustees ordered tin- publication of 
an address lo the public, accompanied by a circular letter to every clergyman in the 
Commonwealth. The response to this appeal was so generous, thai in 1816, the 
trustees were enabled i" buy an estate in Charlestown, (now Somerville) and to build 
two brick bouses, which was ready tor the reception of the insane, in 1818. This 
was the beginning of the McLean Asylum, a branch of the Massachusetts General 
Hospital, and named for one ol ii greatesl benefactors, John .McLean. 

In November, 1817, a second circular letter was sent to the clergymen, to be read 

from their pulpits. Contributions weii' taken in the churches, and the amount 

received from these and from private gifts, authorized tin- immediate erection of 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 371 

In Dr. Bancrofts, North Parish Chh. was 140 dols. 
Mr. Goodrich's, South Parish Church 80 do. 

Baptist Church, 00 

5. Fire Society annual Meeting. Meet at Sikes's. 
Supped there. Was chosen Chairman. I was one of the 
first members of this Society, which was instituted 25 years 
ago. Mrs. Seaver ended her Visit and went home. She 
has been with us a week. Mrs. Thomas, visited at L. 
Lincoln, jun rs . The Town agree to purchase Jennison's 
Farm for 5500 dollars, on which to provide for its Poor. 
It is 2\ miles from the Street, or rather the Court house. 1 



the hospital. The site selected for it was what was formerly known as "Prince's 
pasture, " at the west end of McLean street. The main building, designed by Charles 
Bulfinch, was first opened to patients in 1821, and at that time was considered the 
finest building in New England. 

Mr. Thomas, by his will, left a bequest to the hospital which amounted to more 
than five thousand dollars. 

1 Previous to 1817 the poor of the town were supported by contract with the 
highest bidder at public auction. Owing to the general equality in the condition 
of the people, in the early days of the settlement, there was little poverty, and the 
few who needed assistance were cared for by private charity. In 1757 the first tax 
(£5 4s) was appropriated for their support. In 1772 a small wooden workhouse 
was built on Front street; and in 1807 it was determined to build a brick almshouse, 
but after the land and materials were purchased, the plan was abandoned. 

Notwithstanding the purchase of the Jennison farm at this time, Mr. Thomas made 
the following provision in his will, which was dated 13 November, 1820: — 

" I Give and Devise to the Town of Worcester forever, two Lots of Land on Thomas 
Street, one on the north side of said Street, bounded as follows — southwardly by 
Thomas Street — eastwardly by the Back Street or Road (Summer street) so called 
— northwardly by land lately owned by Nathan Patch and since by Geer Terry — 
and westwardly by land formerly sold to one Shepard by me anil now belonging to 
me. The other Lot, opposite to the last described Lot, having the same extent in 
front, and the northeast and northwest corners opposite to the southeast and south- 
west corners of that Lot; bounded, eastwardly, on the said Back Street or Road, 
southwardly on the late Daniel Heywood's land, westwardly on my own land, and 
northwardly on said Thomas Street. These Lots are given and devised on condi- 
tion that the said Town, within three years after my decease, erect on one of them 
a Charity House facing the .Street, the basement story of which shall be faced with 
hewn stones with at least two stories thereupon, permanently built of brick: and 
on the further condition, that said town pay annually to the Overseers of the Poor, 
twenty dollars, which sum shall be appropriated annually towards providing for the 



372 American Antiquarian Society. 

7. Attend the annual Meeting of the Social Library — 
chosen Chairman— Resigned as Librarian. Very low spir- 
ited for the last two days. Examined the Books in the 
Social Library. 

8. My son came here from Boston. 

10. The whole of this day, I spent with my son adjusting 
our money concerns. 

11. First sleighing in Worcester this season. Went to 
Church twice. 

13. Went this Evening with my son and grand daughter 
Augusta to the Schoolhouse in the Main Street to hear a 
Chimical Lecture delivered by Mr. Eaton from Newyork, 
who exhibited a few experiments. After which the assembly 
present chose a Moderator, and a debate ensued on the 
question, whether they would encourage M r . Eaton to deliver 



poor persons maintained by the town in said Charity House, on thanksgiving days, 
a good and liberal dinner suitable for the occasion; also on that day, half a pint of 
common but good wine for each person, or a reasonable quantity of such other liquors 
as any of them may prefer, that they may have the means of participating on the 
days aforesaid, like their more affluent neighbors in some of the essential good things 
of this life bestowed by a bountiful Providence, and be enabled to unite in grateful 
orisons for the peace and felicity of our Country. And if the whole of said sum of 
twenty dollars should not be necessary in any year for the purpose aforesaid, the 
residue may be laid out in the purchase of books for the children of poor parents, or 
otherwise appropriated for the benefit of the poor as the Overseers or Trustees of the 
Charity House shall think best. If not accepted by the Town of Worcester, for the 
purposes before mentioned in three years after my decease, I devise these Lots to 
my Grand Children Edward, Benjamin and Isaiah T. Simmons and their heirs, 
in equal shares to each Child. " 

By a codicil, dated 26 February, 1830, Mr. Thomas revoked this devise; and in 
its stead left to the town all the lots on Thomas street not otherwise devised or sold 
upon the same conditions. If these were not accepted, he gave the lot on the north- 
erly corner of Thomas and Summer streets "to erect thereon a large and handsome 
brick School house, or Academy — (said lot is sufficiently large to build also thereon, 
a dwelling house for a stationary Schoolmaster, or Tutor.)" 

The latter bequest was accepted by the town, and "The Latin school for boys," 
the first brick school house in Worcester, was opened in 1832. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 373 

a course of Lectures on Geology the five ensuing weeks, 
or defer having them till next fall; also, whether they 
would have a course of Botanical Lectures from M r . Eaton 
the ensuing Summer. I was chosen to preside at this meet- 
ing. A Com ee . was chosen to obtain Subscribers to the 
two courses of Lectures, and to determine whether the 
Lectures on Geology shall commence now or in Autumn. 

15. My Son returned to Boston in the Stage. Went 
to Bed unwell. Have taken a bad cold. 

16. Judge Bangs & Miss Lynde spent the Evening with 

us. 

17. Settled accounts with Clark Whittemore for 5 years 
past, up to this day, and took his note for the ballance. 
Unwell with a bad cold for 3 days past — have eat nothing 
since Thursday noon. 

18. Did not visit Chh. today. Took a light breakfast 
this morning. My Lungs considerably loaded. 

19. Have kept in the House for 5 days past, and lived 
on liquids. 

20. Went to the Store. Mrs. Thomas had an hysteric 
Affection with faintness, occasioned by indigestion. 

22. Assembly this Evening, to which Augusta went. 

23. Mr. Eben r . Adams, 1 one of the Professors of Dart- 
mouth College, called on me. He is on a mission to collect 



1 Ebenezer Adams, the son of Ephraim and Rebecca Locke Adams, of New Ipswich_ 
N. H., was graduated from Dartmouth in 1791. He was preceptor of Leicester 
Academy from 1792 to 1806; professor of mathematics at Philips Exeter Academy; 
professor of languages at Dartmouth in 1809 and 1810; and professor of mathematics 
and natural philosophy from 1810 until his retirement in 1833. Professor Adams 
married Alice, daughter of Dr. John Frink, of Rutland. Mass; and 17 May, 1807 
he married Beulah, daughter of Dr. Timothy Minot, of Concord, Mass. 

[Born, New Ipswich.N.H., 2 October, 1765. Died, Hanover, N. H., 15 August, 1841.] 



374 American Antiquarian Society. 

a sum to enable the government of the College to defend 
their claim in the S. C. of the United States in Washington 
against the government of Dartmouth University. 

24. Professor Adams took breakfast with me. Settled 
accounts with Arthur Adlington 1 on the 20 th inst. up to 
Jan y . 1. Family visit to Judge Bangs on the Even g . of 
the 21 st . 

25. Went to Chh. twice. 

26. My grand daughter Augusta went with M r . Merrick, 
in a Sleigh, to visit his relations in Brookfield. 

27. Rode out. — Miss Sheldon came on a visit for several 
days. Augusta returned from Brookfield. 

28. Bragg and Eliza Smith went to a frolic — without 
notice to the family — staid till one °Clock in the morning. 

29. Mrs. Thomas dismissed Eliza Smith our Chamber 
maid. Miss Sheldon returned to Smithfield with M r . 
Buffum. 

30. Had a small pillar, complete of the Doric order, 
erected in Rev. D 1 . Bancroft's Church for the baptismal 
font — it is placed close in front, outside, and in the centre 
of the Deacon's Scat. 

February, ISIS. 

1. Mrs. Thomas had another of her fainting turns, 
and did not go to Church. Rev. Mr. Nash preached. 
Sacrament administered, and the new furniture for the 
Sacramental Table used tor the first time. Went to Church 
twice. 

2. Wrote to send to the Grand Lodge, some observa- 
tions on the Report of the New Regulations. 



1 Arthur Adlington was a tinsmith and stove dealer. His store was on the east 
side of Main street, north of Thomas street. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



375 



3. Went to Boston in the Albany Line of Stages, on 
the old road through Marlborough — dined at Lovell's at 
Sudbury Causeway — 7h hours on our passage. 

4. Attended Grand Lodge held in the Exchange Coffee 
house, this Evening. Went and returned in a hack. 



5. Walked out — on business, most of this day. 
Seaver came on a visit. 



Mrs. 



6. Dined with Mr. E. T. Andrews. 
spent the Evening with me. 



Rev. M r . Jenks 1 



1 William Jenks was graduated from Harvard in 1797, and became a reader at 
Christ Church, Cambridge. He was the minister of the First Congregational Church 
in Bath, Me., from 1805 to ISIS, during which time he nerved as chaplain in the 
War of 1S12, and for three years as professor of the Oriental languages and litera- 
ture at Bowdoin. In 181S he returned to Boston, and inaugurated the first religious 
instruction for seamen, which developed into the Mariner's Church, and later into 
the City Missionary Society. Having organized a society and erected a church 
in Green street, he was its minister from 1S26 to 1S44, when the society united with 
the Garden Street Church to form the Messiah Church, over which he was settled 
until it was disbanded in 1846. 

Dr. Jenks was mote noted as an author than as a preacher. His principal pub- 



Jan. 





Cash received. 






1. 


Rec d . at the Bank, 31.00 




Quarter's Rent of a 




8. 


Store, 1 . 00 




house in Boston, 


1 25 . 00 




Rec d . of subscriptions for 


11. 


Noyes remainder of 






the Church, 4.00 




Rent, 


4.00 




Do of Mr. Brazer of do, 39 . 00 




Store, 


3.00 






22. 


Of Col. Note & Interest 


53.35 




Cash pa 


d away. 






1. 


Mrs. Thomas 5. and 5., 10.00 


20. 


Beef, 1.12. Picture, 50. 


1.62 




Sundries, 3 . 75 


22. 


Mrs Rice, 


1.50 


3. 


Flannel, 4.00 


23. 


Dartmouth College, 


20.00 


5. 


Supper at Sikes's, more 


24. 


Postage, 


0.40 




than the funds, 0. 64 


26. 


Meat, 


1.20 


7. 


Mrs. Pease, 3.00 


27. 


Paul, Levi Bigelow's 




8. 


Mrs. Thomas, 20.00 




order, for Wood, 


26.30 




Sent in a better in full for 




Paid Homer's bill, 


6.31 




Port Folio, 6.00 




Sugar loaf, 


1.68 


10. 


Family, 1.00 


28. 


Paid Suttons Accl ., 


4.00 


111. 


Tibbetts account for 


29. 


Paid Turnpike A--< — 






making Clothes. 17.87 




ment. 


285 . 00 


19 


Post Office, 6.50 


30. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


20.00 




Deed for M r . Slater, 0.87 




Oyl, 


1.00 



376 American Antiquarian Society. 

7. Abroad chief part of the day. Saw Frazer, alias 
Lawrence, at her house, by her husband's request, and her 
own. 

8. Went twice to Church at the Stone Chapel. 

9. Bought 2 barrels of Flour. Returned to Worcester 
in the Albany Line of Stages in about 1\ hours. Dined 
at Lovell's at Sudbury Causeway. Mrs. Salisbury & Son 
Passengers. 

11. Rev. D r . Bancroft and wife visited us this Evening. 



lished works were a "Comprehensive Commentary on the Bible," of which the sale 
reached 120,000 copies; and an "Explanatory Bible Atlas and Scripture Gazetteer. 

He received the degree of D.D. from Bowdoin in 1825, and from Harvard in 1842; 
and that of LL. D. from the former college in 1862. 

Dr. Jenks was the founder of the American Oriental Society; a fellow of the Ameri- 
can Academy of Arts and Sciences; and a member of the Massachusetts Historical 
and the New England Historic Genealogical Societies. He was elected a member 
of the American Antiquarian Society in February, 1813; was its corresponding 
secretary from 1812 to 1816; a councillor from 1820 to 1831; a member of the com- 
mittee of publication from 1819 to 1833; and vice-president from 1853 to 1866. 
He delivered the anniversary address before the society in 1813, and again in 1863. 

He married, in 1799, Betsey, daughter of Ezekiel Russell, of Boston. 
[Born, Newton, Mass., 25 November, 1778. Died, Boston, 13 November, 1866.] 

1 Stephen Salisbury, the son of Stephen and Elizabeth Tuckerman Salisbury, 
prepared for college at Leicester Academy, and was graduated from Harvard in 
1817. 27 October of that year, Samuel M. Burnside entered in his diary, "Mr. 
Stephen Salisbury commenced his studies in my office." He was admitted to the 
Worcester County Bar, of which he was the oldest member at the time of his 
death; but it is doubtful if he ever had any thought of the actual practise of his 
profession, as the care of his father's constantly increasing property, which in a 
few years descended to him, and the public and financial affairs in which he was 
interested, fully occupied his time. 

Entering upon his active life at the time when Worcester was beginning to 
grow from a small country village into an important manufacturing and commer- 
cial centre, he took an active part in its progress, and contributed in a large 
measure to the development of its resources. He built the Court Mills at Lincoln 
square, for manufacturing purposes; the first wire mill for Ichabod Washburn, on 
Grove street, in 1834; several of the factory buildings on Union street; and was a 
director and large stockholder in various companies. 

Mr. Salisbury never cared for public office, but served in many important legis- 
lative and municipal positions: — was selectman in 1S39; a member of the first 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 377 

12. Rode out. Miss Catharine Ellery, aged 17, died 
very suddenly. 1 

13. Mrs. Seaver ended her visit with us. M rs . Thomas 
rode out. Tapped Cyder. 

14. Had 4 men to shovel snow, from the Roof of the 
House — South wing leaked so that' the water came copi- 
ouslv into mv bed chamber, and thro' into the Parlour. 



Board of Aldermen, in 1848; representative to the General Court, in 1838 and 1839; 
state senator in 1846 and 1847; elector of President and Vice President in 1860 
and 1872; a member of the first Board of Directors of the Free Public Library, 
and president of the board from 1863 to 1865, and from 1868 to 1872; director of 
the Worcester Bank from 1832 to 1884, and its president from 1845 to 1884; 
president of the Worcester County Institution for Savings, from 1845 to 1871; 
director of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad from its organization, in 1845, 
and president in 1850 and 1851; director of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail- 
road; first president of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute; trustee of the State 
Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester, and of Leicester Academy; and president of the 
Worcester County Horticultural Society, 

From 1871 to 1883 he was a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard 
University; was a trustee of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, for eighteen, 
and its treasurer for fifteen years; and a member of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society. 

Mr. Salisbury was elected to the American Antiquarian Society in 1840; served 
on the Council from 1843; as vice-president in 1853; and as president from 1854 
until his death. 

A generous benefactor of many of these institutions, Mr. Salisbury gave most 
liberally to three in which he took an especial interest: — the American Antiquarian 
Society, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Harvard University. Always a 
great lover and student of the ancient languages, he made a donation to the 
library of the latter in 1858, "to be expended in the purchase of books in the 
Greek and Latin languages, and in books in other languages illustrating Greek 
and Latin books." In 1875, he received the degree of LL.D. from the University. 

Mr. Salisbury was three times married; — 7 November, 1833, to Rebekah Scott, 
daughter of Aaron and Phila Dean, of Charlestown, N. H., who died 24 July, 1843, 
leaving one son Stephen; then to Nancy Hoard, widow of Captain George Lincoln, 
who died 4 September, 1852; and third, to Mary Grosvenor, widow of Edward 
Dillingham Bangs, who died 25 September, 1864. 

IBorn, Worcester, 8 March, 1798. Died, Worcester, 24 August, 1884.] 

1 Katherine Matilda, the daughter of Edmund Trowbridge and Katherine Almy 
Ellery, of Newport, R. I., and the granddaughter of William Ellery, the signer of the 
Declaration of Independence. 



378 American Antiquarian Society. 

15. Went to Church twice. 

16. Attended Miss Ellery's funeral. Judge Bangs and 
Miss Lynde spent the Evening. Unwell — very chilly — 
somewhat of a sore throat. Had my bed warmed, which 
is unusual. Adlington took the Shop in the 3-story house. 
40 dollars per annum till the first of April — then 45 dollars 
per annum — Rent begins this day. Relinquished the Shop 
two days after — his child died in Dorchester where his 
family is. 

17. Mrs. Thomas and my grand daughter Augusta 
went to Lancaster, on their way to Boston. 

18. Mrs. Thomas & Augusta w r ent from Lancaster to 
Boston. 

19. Bragg returned from Boston with the Sleigh & 
Horses — did not arrive till 9 °Clock in the Evening. Mrs. 
Thomas & Augusta remained in Boston. 

22. Went to Church once. Bragg went to Lancaster 
on his own business. 

23. Bragg returned from Lancaster. He went with a 
widow whom he is courting. Wrote to Mrs. T. 

24. Do. 

25. Do. twice. 

27. Sent Bragg to Boston at half-past 5 °Clock with 
the Sleigh and Horses for Mrs. Thomas to return home. 

28. Mrs. Thomas returned from Boston with ray grand 
daughter Mary Rebecca in the Sleigh, and crossed the Long 
Pond on the Ice. Mrs. T. has been to Boston for medical 
advice, and whilst there was under the care of Doctor 
Jackson. 3 

'James Jackson, the son of Jonathan Jackson, of Newburyport, Wasp., was grad- 
uated from Harvard in 1796, and after teaching for a year at Leicestei Academy, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 
March, IS 18. 



379 



1. Went to Church twice — -Dinner — Salmon Trout, 
Holibut & Smelts. 

2. Great Thaw & Freshets — Water in the Brook rose 
higher than the Arch in the Bridge, and ran over the road 
on the east side between the gaol, and gaoler's house. Water, 



studied medicine with Dr. Edward A. Holyoke, of Salem, and at St. Thomas's Hos- 
pital, in London. He was lecturer on clinical medicine at Harvard from 1810 to 
1812; and Hersey professor of the theory and practise of Physic from 1812 to 1836, 
when he was chosen professor "emeritus." He practised in Boston from 1800 to 
1860. 

Dr. Jackson received the degree of M. D. from Harvard in 1811, and that of LL.D. 
in 1854; and was a member of the Board of Overseers from 1844 to 1846. He was 
president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Massachusetts 
Medical Society. 

[Born, Newburyport, 3 October, 1777. Died, Boston, 27 August, 1867.] 



Cash received. 



Feb. 



In Boston, Loan Office, 102.37 

Rent 1 quarter, House 

in Boston, 125.00 

Do. do. Boston, Mrs. 
Wooley, 65.00 

Treasurer's Notes, ex- 
changed, 50.00 



U.S.Bill, 20.00 

25. Rent of Hathaway for 

Mrs. Eager, 9.34 

28. Of Mr. Wheeler, Note, 59.00 
Rent, Newbury Street 
house paid Mrs. 
Thomas, 20 . 00 







Cash paid away. 






2. 


Towards Wood-Rice, 


1.68 




Expenses on the Road to 




4. 


Steel purse, 


1.00 




and from Boston, 


7.25 




Spectacles, — pebbles, 


9.50 


10. 


Gates, towards Wood, 


3.00 




Goloshoes & Mocinsons, 


4.50 


12. 


Veal twice, 


3.90 




Ticket, Mrs. Thomas, 


0.75 


14. 


Mrs. Pease, 


2.47 




Paid for Church arti- 




16. 


Meat, 


1.76 




cles, 


40.00 


17. 


Sundries, 50., Mrs. Thorn 




5. 


Mrs. Mary Munroe, 


20.00 




as, 10.00, 


10.50 




For Ree's Encyclo- 




18. 


Gates towards wood, 


10.00 




pedia, 


28.00 




1 Load of wood, 


1.87* 




Figs & Nutmegs, 


5.17 


19. 


Meat, 


2.64 


6. 


Williams & Preston, 


90.00 


22. 


Sundries & Oil, 


1 . 62 


7. 


Edinburgh Encyclopedia 




23. 


Pease, 


2.00 




Messrs. Williams. 


12.00 


26. 


Meat, 84, Tristram < (lies 






Kilborn Whitman, Esq., 






at'., 8.00, 


8.84 




for Tickets, 


94.00 


27. 


Bragg for expensi 






Barber, 


0.67 




Road to Boston, 


5.00 




Tongs & Shovel, 


5.00 




Branch-. 


0.50 




Mrs. Frazer, 


1.00 


28. 


Mrs. Thomas — rent in 




9. 


Servants, 


0.75 




Boston. 


20.00 



380 American Antiquarian Society. 

rose higher everywhere in this vicinity than has been known 
before by any person living. Great damage done to Bridges, 
mill dams, &c, in many places. 

4. Settled with Newton & Tufts the concerns respecting 
purchasing of me the paper Mill in Alsted, N. H. Deed, 
Bond and Mortgage written to be delivered April 1 st . 

5. Grand daughter, Mary Rebecca, went to the Assem- 
bly this Evening, which closed at about 2 °Clock in the 
morning. 

8. Went to Church twice. M'. Nash preached in the 
Forenoon. 

9. Settled with Williams and agreed to let him have 
the farm another year to the halves. The freshet on 
Monday last was greater it is thought than for 50 j^ears 
preceding, on the Merrimack, the Hudson, and the Connec- 
ticut Rivers, and on the streams emptying into them. 
Springfield new large Bridge, with a great number of other 
large Bridges, a greater number of small ones, and a still 
larger number of mill dams destroyed. We have certain 
information of 6 persons drowned. 

12. Bragg, my Coachman, who is about marrying a 
widow, and going to farming, recommended a young man 
to me, in his place by the name of Parker, who is now in 
Princeton — I sent Bragg for him — he returned with Parker 
in the Evening. 

13. Engaged Amory Parker, for one year as a Coach- 
man at 170 dols. per annum & board him. 

15. Mrs. Thomas began taking the medicine prepared 
by D r . Jackson of Boston. Mrs. Seaver came on a visit 
yesterday. Went to Church twice. 

16. Miss Lynde, &c, visit. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 381 

Worcester, March 19th, 1818. 
The undersigned hereby engage to Supply I. Thomas, 
with three hundred perch of good Junk Stones everyway 
proper for laying a good Stone Cellar a foundation Wall 
for a brick building, and as many more perches as he may 
want, all to be delivered by the first of May next, at twenty- 
five cents per perch after they are laid. The word hundred 
interlined before signing. The perch is considered as 16J 
feet long and one foot Square. 

Joel Putnam. 
Danforth Abbott. 

20. Mrs. Thomas more unwell than usual. 

21. Mrs. Thomas kept her Chamber. 

22. Went to Chh. twice. Mrs. T. kept her Chamber 
to-day also but is more comfortable. 

23. Mrs. Thomas came below — is much better. 

24. Mrs. Seaver ended her Visit. 

25. Visit D r . Bancroft & Wife. Mrs. Thomas rode out. 

26. Detected my black boy Andrew in stealing and giving 
away Books to other Boys, also in lying — Sent for parents 
of the boys and the boys also. Settled the business on a 
promise of amendment. 

27. Amory Parker came to live with me as a Coachman. 
His wages are to begin the 9 th of next month. 

28. Bought two small pieces of Land, at the bottom 
of Thomas Street, belonging to the Estate of the late Daniel 
Heyward and adjoining to my land. The Lots of Land 
I have purchased do not both of them contain more than 
3 fourths of an Acre, for which I am to pay about 144 
dollars. 

29. Went to Church twice. 



382 American Antiquarian Society. 

31. Nahum Bragg went to Boston on business of His 
own. 

Became, this month, a Member of the Society for con- 
tributing toward the expence of detecting Thieves. 1 

Engaged the House and Land on the Common to Simeon 
Duncan, jun 1 . and Artemas Ward, 2 d , one-half to each — 
the whole 100 dols. per annum to be paid Quarterly from 
P' of April. Leased the House and Land in Thomas Street 
to Ira Rand, at 55 dollars per annum to be paid quarterly 
— beginning April 1 st . 



1 2 November, 1795, a number of men met at Heywood's Tavern in Worcester, 
to form an association for the protection of their property against thieves; and at 
a meeting a week later Samuel Flagg was chosen secretary and treasurer; and Ben- 
jamin Heywood, Ephraim Mower, Captain Joshua Whitney, Colonel Phinehas Jones, 
Deacon John Chamberlain, John Barnard and Samuel Andrews, a standing commit- 
tee. A set of rules was adopted, the preamble of which stated that "Whereas the 
practice of Stealing has become so prevalent of late, that it becomes Necessary for 
the well disposed to unite in the most effectual Measures of Protecting their property 
against those Hostile invasions, We the Subscribers do, therefore Associate ourselves 
together, for the purpose of More effectually recovering any property that may at 
any time be stolen from the members of this Society, and of Mutually aiding each 
other in bringing offender* to condign punishment, hereby engaging to comply 
with the following rules and regulations." 

The entrance fee was six shillings, in addition to which each member was required 
to pay his proportion of any expense incurred in recovering property; and any 
member who refused to go in pursuit of thieves without a reasonable excuse, was 
not entitled t6 farther advantage from the society. 

The original members were Isaiah Thomas, Asa Hamilton, Samuel Brooks, Samuel 
Brazer, Nathaniel Paine, Leonard Worcester, John Green, Jr., John Pierce, Joel 

How, Daniel Heywood, 2nd., Ebenezer Peed, Abel Heyw 1, Charles Stearns, Thad- 

deus Chapin, David Andrews, Daniel Heywood, John Barnard, Daniel Willington 
Walter Tufts, Benjamin Heywood, Joshua Whitney, Ephraim Mower, Phinehas 
Jones, Jonathan Chamberlain, Samuel Flagg, Robert Smith, Asa Ward, Oliver 
Fiske and Daniel Goalding. 

The next meeting was not held until 7, January, 1801, when the name of "The 
Society of Mutual Aid against Thieves" was adopted. 10 January, 1803, the first 
pursuing committee was chosen, the members of which were "to hold themselves 
in readiness, at the shortest notice, to pursue any thief or thieves who may have 
stolen any property from a member of this society. " 

The society is still in existence under the name of "The Worcester Association 
foi Mutual Aid in Detecting Thieves." 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



383 



April, 1818. 

1. Settled an old Ace 1 , with Bangs & Green and 
Green & Bangs 1 & with Edw. D. Bangs. Mrs. Thomas 
so well as to ride out. Bragg returned from Boston. 
Became a member of the Worcester County Agricultural 
Society. 2 

2. Fast day. Went to Church twice. Mrs. T. well 
enough to go once. 

4. Attended annual Parish Meeting. 

5. Very stormy — None of the family went to Church. 

6. Supreme Court tomorrow. Attended Town meeting, 
and in the Evening the fire Club. Some evil minded 
persons, broke M l . Salisbury's windows, and cut and injured 
two of the trees sat out by Mr. Waldo before his house 



1 Edward Bangs and William E. Green, and William E. Green and Edward D. 
Bangs. 

2 The Worcester Agricultural Society was incorporated 23 February, 1818. At 
the meeting, 11, March, Levi Lincoln, Sen., was elected president; Daniel Waldo 
and Thomas W. Ward, vice presidents; Theophilus Wheeler, Treasurer; Levi Lin- 
coln, Jr., corresponding secretary; and Abraham Lincoln, recording secretary. 







Cash received. 






3. 


Cash of Howe for rent, 




12. 


Store, 


2.62* 




notes, &c, 


46.00 


24. 


Do., 


3.25 


5. 


Do. of Mr. Manning, 


2.50 
Cash pa 


i.l away. 






3. 


Paid Derby by Howe's 




17. 


Paid Ephraim Mower for 






Note, 


41.50 




17,600 bricks by an or- 






Gates towards Wood, 


2.50 




der on Nath. Maccarty, 




4. 


Paid Kendall for Lime, 


30.00 




Esq., 101.00 


7. 


Mr. Stone half a pew. 


3.50 


18. 


Paid Darby. 158.50 


10. 


Beef, 


2.43 


20. 


Hannah Kingsley, 


1.00 




Wood, to Gates, in 




21. 


Sundries, 


5.00 




full, 


16.87 


25. 


Paid for piling 17,600 




11. 


Paid Taxes for my 






bricks, 


2.19 




sun. 


16.33 


29. 


Beef, 1.26; Sugar Loaf. 






Veal. 


0.84 




2.1ii, 
Sundries, 


3.42 
2.00 








30. 


Beef, 


1.S4 



384 



American Antiquarian Society. 



and the bank. Myself and others offered, (by advertise- 
ment) 100 dollars reward for apprehending the offenders. 1 

8. Sent Miss Sheldon's Trunk with its contents to her 
by the Providence Postman. Finished sawing & piling 
wood — have on hand as it is sawed and piled 37 cords & {. 



1 One Hundred Dollars Reward ! 

HEREAS some evil minded person 
or perfons did, on the night of the 5th & 6th inft. 
fucceffively deftroy one of the Trees fet out for ufe and 
ornament in the publick highway, oppofite the BANK, in 
Woreefter, and whereas on the night laft mentioned an af- 
fault was made with Stones upon the Dwelling-Houfe of 
Stephen Salifbury, Efq. by which a Window was broken, a 
Reward of Fifty Dollars will be paid by the Subfcribers, to 
any perfon who will furnifh fuch evidence, as will bring 
the malicious perpetrator or perpetrators of either of the 
aforementioned acts to Conviction and Punifhment. 



Isaiah Thomas, 
Oliver Fiske, 
Theophilus Wheeler, 
Asa Hamilton, 
Silas Brooks, 
Reuben Sikes, 
S. M. Burnside, 
Benjamin F. Heywood, 
John Green, 
Levi Lincoln, Jr. 
Rejoice Newton, 
Samuel Jennison 
Reuben Munroe, 
John M. Earle, 
Jeremiah Robinson, 
Daniel Clap, 
John Davis, 
Samuel Hathaway, 
Geo. A. Trumbull, 
William Eaton. 
Worcester, April 7, 1818. 



Edward D. Bangs, 
Samuel Brazer, 
Samuel Allen, 
Daniel Denny, 
Daniel Waldo, 
Edward Bangs, 
Ephraim Mower, 
John W. Lincoln, 
John Mower, 
Pliny Merrick, 
Nathaniel Paine, 
Nathaniel Eaton, 
Samuel Ward, 
Samuel Allen, Jr. 
Joseph Allen, 
Nathl. Maccarty, 
Levi Heywood, 
Abraham Lincoln, 
Nathaniel Stowell, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 385 

9. Supreme Judicial Court week. Second meeting of 
the Worcester Agricultural So y . was on the 9 th instant. 

12. Went to Church once. Have a cold, and a touch 
of the hip gout for several days past. Spent the Evening 
at Dr. Bancroft's. Judge Parker, 1 M r . Morton Atty. 
General — M r . Bigelow, Speaker of the House of Representa- 
tives and a number of other Gentlemen present. 

13. Intended to have gone to Boston today but the Roads 
were too bad. 

14. Went to Boston with my Grand daughter Mary 
Rebecca, in the Coachee. Parker, my new Coachman 
drove for the first time. Bragg, late my Coachman went 
with us. Dismissed Bragg and paid him. He is going to 
be married and has taken a farm. I parted with him 
reluctantly. 

15. Attended the adjourned Meeting of the American 
Antiq 11 . Society 2 at the Exchange Coffee house. 



1 Isaac Parker, the son of Daniel and Margaret Parker, of Boston, Mass., was 
graduated from Harvard in 1786. After his admission to the Bar, he began his 
professional life in Castine, Me., but removed to Portland in 1786, and in the same 
year was appointed an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. 
In 1814 he became its Chief Justice, and took up his residence in Boston. 

He was elected to Congress as a Federalist, in 1796; was United States Marshal 
for the District of Maine from 1797 to 1801: and was the president of the Massachu- 
setts Constitutional Convention in 1820. From 1815 to 1827 he was Royall professor 
of Law at Harvard, and was a member of the Board of Overseers from 1810 to 1830. 
He received the degree of LL. D. from Harvard in 1814. 

Judge Parker married 19 June, 1794, Rebecca Hall, of Boston. 

[Born, Boston, 17 June, 1768. Died, Boston, 26 May, 1830.] 

2 The members elected at this meeting were James Monroe; James Madison; An- 
drew Jackson; Dr. Daniel Drake, Ethan A. Brown and Ethan Stone, of Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio; Dr. Calvin Conant, of Putnam, Ohio; William Wilson, of Newark, 
Ohio; Seth Adams, of Zanesville, Ohio; Dr Samuel P. Hildreth, of Marietta, Ohio; 
Major Jeremiah R. Munson, of Grenville, Ohio; Caleb Atwater. of Circleville, Ohio; 
Rev. Daniel Sherman, of Knoxville, Tenn.; John A. McKinney, of Rogersville, 
Tenn.; John E. Hall, of Philadelphia; Rev. Francis Parkman, of Boston; John Cranch, 
of Bath, Eng.; and H. M. Breckenridge. 

25 



386 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Dined with M r . E. T. Andrews. 

18. Had the Carriage ready to return home — but the 
Rain & Storm prevented. 

19. Sunday, returned home — very windy, cold unpleasant 
day — Bad roads. 

21. My Brother Joshua came to see me. 

22. My Brother returned to Lancaster. 

24. Butmans place, old tavern house 1 and the land sold 
at Auction for 1010 dols. I bid 1005 dols. 

25. My son's wife, her Sister Mrs. Andrews and her 
little son Eben r . who is very sick, arrived here from Boston 
— they intend for the benefit of the Child's health, going 
on to Northampton. 

26. Went to Church twice. 

27. Agreed with young Robinson to let him have 2000 
or 3000 dollars in books to sell on Commission at 30 per 
cent, and enable him to begin business in Norwich, Connec- 



J The Brown and Butman Tavern, more familiarly known as the "Hancock Arms 
Tavern, " stood on the westerly side of Lincoln street, a few rods from Lincoln square. 
It was opened in 1745 or 1746 by Luke Brown, of Sudbury, who married a daughter 
of Judge William Jennison, of Worcester. After his death, in 1772, his son Luke 
became the landlord, and he, falling a victim of the smallpox four years later, was 
in turn succeeded by his sun Samuel, who was its host until nearly the close of the 
century. He was followed bj Benjamin Butman, senior, Joel Howe. William Cham- 
berlain, Captain Simeon Duncan and others. During the revolutionary period t he 
inline was changed to the "Hancock Arms Tavern," or the "Sign of Governor Han- 
cock." and the sign before the d ■ bore the portrait of the Governor. Here were 

held the Brsi meetings of the "American Political Society" a local whig organization 
which existed from December. 1773 to May 1776; and here was the headquarters 

for that party, while the "Kings Arms Tavern," on the site of the Lincoln House 
block, kept by Brown's brother-in-law, Thomas Sterne, was the headquarters of 
the tories. During the scenes of Shay's Rebellion many of the insurgents were 
quartered their. 

The building was finally brought by Stephen Salisbury, and after remaining unoc- 
cupied for several years, was burned -'■'< December, L824, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 387 

ticut. Mrs. Andrews, her Sister & Son went on for North- 
ampton. Moses Thomas from Sterling — dined with us. 

29. Began to work in the garden — for this purpose 
hired Peter Rich 1 and his son Ben. Men of colour. 1.25 
per day. 

May, ISIS. 

1. Sowed the first Peas, early June, Strawberry &c. 

2. Mr. Thaxter — dined with us. Workmen began mak- 
ing alterations irt the Court Room in the Court house. 

3. Went to Church twice. 

4. Attended the Funeral of Wm. C. White, Esq r . 

5. Mrs. Thomas rode out, with Company, and spent 
the afternoon abroad, 4 miles distant. 

6. Mrs. Pease our housekeeper went to Shrewsbury. 
We discovered things very disagreeable respecting her. 
My Niece, Mrs. Parker came on a visit. 

7. Mrs. Thomas dismissed Mrs. Pease our housekeeper, 
by sending her a letter for that purpose to Shrewsbury, 
by Parker, our Coachman. Planted Beats, Parsnips, &c. 
Planted potatoes in the Garden. 

8. Let Thomas Robinson have above 2500 dollars in 
Books to sell on Commis". 

10. Went to Church twice. Came out of Church in 
the afternoon being taken with Colick. 

11. My Son & Mr. Charles Ewers came from Boston. 

12. Spent the whole of this day in looking into my 
Son's affairs. Mr. Ewer present. 



1 Peter Rich was a mechanic, and was spoken of as an honest ami industrious citizen. 
The greater part of his life was spent in the service of Daniel Waldo, Governor Lincoln 
and Rice and Miller. lie died in October, 1854, at the a^e of ninety-four years. 



388 



American Antiquarian Society. 



13. Spent this day as yesterday. Agreed with Adling- 
ton to build a Stone Wall, at the bottom of Thomas Street. 

14. Spent the forenoon of this day in the same way as 



Apr. 1. 



Cash received. 


Of Artemas Ward, Rent. 20.00 


9. 


Cash from my Son, 


11. 


(Broadcloth), 33 . 25 


14. 


Worcester Bank, check 


15. 


given, Heywoods, 120.00 




Dividend at the Bank, 390.00 




Do. for Mrs. Thomas, 




* Miss Armstrong & Miss 




Weld, 60.00 


20. 


Borrowed of Dr. Fiske, 




6.00— of Mrs. T. 7.00, 13.00 


27. 



Cash paid away. 



Mr. Foxcroft, for plaster 

of Paris last year, 5 . 40 

Mrs. Pease, 1 .50 

Broad-Cloth, 33 . 25 

Agricultural Society of 

Worcester Co J . as a 

Member, 5 . 00 

Ballance of Acc ts . Green 

& Bangs, 0.45 

Paid Levi Lincoln for 

wood, 23.33 

Paid for Lands bought of 

Heywood, &c, 120.00 

Recording Deed, 0.85 

Pork, &c, 2.50 

Miss Armstrong's & Miss 

Weld's dividend pd., 36.00 
Mrs. Thomas's dividend, 24 . 00 
Deposited in Bank, 390.00 



7. 


Meat, 1,50; Sundries, .60, 


2.10 


8. 


Sundries, 

Paid for sawing Wood 3 
dols., Rand for do., 


2.00 




17.37*. 


20.37 


9. 


Paid Mr. Thaxier for 






Cyder, 


15.67 




Paiil Mr Porter, ballaner 






for Wood, 


2.87 




Paid Dr. Fiske 6 dols. 






borrowed, 


6.00 


11. 


Meat, 


1.50 


14. 


Paid I'ragg, Coachman 






Wages, 200.00 




Paid Anna, 


7.00 




Ch*., 


1.75 




1 Books purchased 


1 6 . 75 



18. 



20. 



21. 



22. 



23. 



25. 



27. 
28. 



500 


00 


230 


00 


8 


00 


1 


06 


1 


00 


13 


60 


1 


00 




65 


5 


75 



15.00 



Of Wm. Manning, 3.00 

Rec d . at the Bank, 50.00 

Of West & Richardson, 236.00 
State Bank, dividend, 42.00 
Union do. do. 14.00 

Loan Office, 102.34 

Rent, house Central 

Court, 125.00 

Check Worcester Bank 

on a Boston Bank, 
Cash from the Bank, 



William's Encyclopedia 
Lemons, Oranges, &c, 
Teapot handle, 
Coffee, 

Barber & Mustard pot, 
Oranges, 

Children & servant, 
Horsekeeping and Coach- 
man, 
Expenses on the Road to 

Boston, 3 . 25 

Toll Gates, 1 . 50 

Sundries, 1 . 00 

Canvas for the Safe, 1 .00 

Tacks & tape, . 35 

Society detecting Thieves, 1 .00 
Sent my Son, 500.00 

Beef, 1.10 

Mrs. Thomas — Bank & 

Loan, 19.00 

Meat, 2.42 

My Brother Cash, 8 dols. 

Sundries, 10., 18.00 

Miss Sheldon, 30.00 

Cash paid Waldo's for 

my son. 
Sundries, 
Deposited in Worcester 

Hank, 
Tax for removing School 

house, 25 . 00 

Meat & Sundries, 1.52 

T. Stiles, to purchase oil 40.00 
Williams for Oats to son, 3 .00 
Family. 1.00 






135.00 
2.00 



130.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 389 

yesterday. My son & M l . Ewer went to Boston in the after- 
noon Stage. 

15. Agreed with William Andrews to take my Books 
& sell on Commission. Planted pole Beans. 

17. Did not go to Church. 

18. Went to Boston in the Mail Stage. Mrs. Seaver, 
Miss Mary Bancroft and a son of D r . Paine, &c. passengers. 

20. At the request of M r . Greenwood, 1 portrait painter 
in Boston, sat for him to take my likeness — M r . Greenwood 
is a member of a new Society in Boston called the fine 
Arts. Went to the Theatre with my son and his 5 daughters 
to whom I gave tickets. 

21. Sat again to Mr. Greenwood — Dined with M l . E. 
T. Andrews. 



'Ethan Allen Greenwood, the son of Moses and Betsey Dunlap Greenwood, of 
Hubbardston, Mass., was graduated from Dartmouth in 1806. After practising 
law for a short time in his native town, he was for many years a successful portrait 
painter in Boston. In 1816 he occupied a studio on Tremont street, but two yearB 
later removed to 24 Marlborough (Washington) street. 

In the spring of 1818 he obtained a charter for the "New England Museum, "the 
shares of which were principally owned by Boston merchants. It was opened on the 
fourth of July of that year at 76 Court street and originally comprised the collection 
of Edward Savage, the artist and portrait painter, and the engraver of the Savage 
portrait of Washington, with whom Mr. Greenwood was for a time associated. Sub- 
sequently several smaller museums were added, including the "New Haven, " the 
"Market," the so-called "Boston," the "Columbian" and the collection of the 
Linnaean Society. The whole occupied two large halls and other rooms in the block 
of buildings on Court street, between Cornhill and Brattle street. The enterprise 
eventually proved a failure and in 1828 Mr. Greenwood was obliged to assign his 
property. The museum was bought by the brothers Kimball, by whom it was rear- 
ranged and opened as the "Boston Museum, " in a building on the site of the old Horti- 
cultural Hall. 

Mr. Greenwood, retired to Hubbardston where he passed the remainder of his life. 

His diary records the painting of Mr. Thomas' portrait, and also that of Isaiah 
Thomas, Jr., in the spring of 1818. Among his portraits of local interest are those of 
Rev. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury, and of Rev. Peter Whitney, of Northborough. 

Mr. Greenwood married Mrs. Caroline Warren, of Roxbury, Mass., 11 February, 
1821, but had no children. 
r Born, Hubbardston, 27 May, 1779. Died, Hubbardston, 3 May, 1856.] 



390 American Antiquarian Society. 

22. Sat again to Mr. G. Dined with M r . Sam 1 . Arm- 
strong, Printer. 

23. Sat again to M r . Greenwood. Unpleasant contro- 
versy between my son and M r . E. T. Andrews, who with 
M r . Ewer and myself were consulting about my son's 
pecuniary Concerns. New floating Bridge over the long 
Pond finished, & toll taken. 

24. Went once to the Chapel 

25. Sat again to M r . Greenwood. Our old housekeeper 
Mrs. Frazer — now Lawrence, called at my son's to see me. 

27. Election day — Unwell. Touch of Cholera Morbus. 
Visited by D 1 . Gorham. 1 

28. Unwell — but better than yesterday. 

29. Returned to Worcester in a Chaise with Dr. Bancroft. 
Crossed the new Bridge on Long Pond for the first time. 

30. Kept house all day — Have abstained from animal 
food since Tuesday last, and taken but little of other food. 

31. Kept house all da3^. 

June, 1818. 

2. Miss Weld, Win. T. Andrews, and his little Sister 
Elizabeth, came in the Mail Stage, from Boston, to visit us. 

3. Mrs. Andrews, my Son's wife, & Mrs. Andrew's little 
sick son Eben r . returned from Northampton, on their way 
home. They all tarry with us. I have been very weak 
for the past 7 days, but think I am recovering. 

5. Mrs. Andrews, her little Son and daughter, Miss 
Hannah Weld, my son's wife, and Mr. W. T. Andrews, all 
left us, in a carriage for Boston. I accompanied them 6 
miles. 



J Dr. John Gorham, 44 Newbury street. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



391 



7. Went to Church once. Removed my lodging to 
west Chamber. 

8. Cold. Had a fire in my room. 

10. Met with several other proprietors of the Turnpike 
— respecting toll. 

11. Worked out doors in the Garden & front yard, all 
day. 

12. Mrs. Thomas, unknown to me, sent a letter to our 
old housekeeper Frazer — inviting her to come to see her. 
Mrs. T. appears disposed to try her again as a housekeeper 
if she can get her. Mr. George Bancroft went to Boston, 



May 







Cash received. 






1. 


Of Tanyanl remains. 


36.14 


12. 


Hannah Kingsley — to 




5. 


Rent from Boston, 






keep, 


8.50 




(Thompson), 


125.00 


14. 


Of Mr. Maccarty, 


200.00 


6. 


From the Worcester 




15. 


From the Worcester 






Bank, 


25.00 




Bank, 


49.00 


8. 


Interest, Dr. Bancroft, 


33.00 


28. 


Towards Mrs. Beals's 






Towards principal of do 


100.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 


Rent, 


15.00 


1. 


Sundries, 


1.00 


14. 


Paid Mr. Maccarty for 






Family, meat, 


2.25 




my son. 


87.23 


2. 


Peter Rich, 

Sent Mrs. Crocker foi 


3.00 


16. 


Meats, &c, 

Paid Mr. Allen for my 


4.00 




her Books, 


12.50 




son, 


49.10 


4. 


Meat & freight of Coffee, 


1.84 


17. 


Paid Peter Ri^h, in full, 


4.00 




Cash sent Mary Anne ir 




18. 


Expenses to Boston, 


3.20 




a Letter, 


40.00 


19. 


L. old friend, 


2.00 


6. 


Mrs. Pease 4 dols., Meat 




21. 


Paid Gibbons, Grocer's 






1.08, 


5.08 




bill, 


21.12 




Deposited in the Bank, 


100.00 




Chinese wooden bowl, 


1.00 


7. 


Mrs. Parker, 


3.00 




Towels, &c, 


3.00 


8. 


Sundries — meat, 


7.34 


22. 


Hannah Kingsley, 


6.00 


9. 


Meat, 


.86 


23. 


2 Copies Am. Philo. 






Gates, teaming to Nor- 






Transaction, 


10.00 




wich, 


20.00 


24. 


Lemmons & Oranges, 


1.00 




Deposited in Bank, 


100.00 


25. 


Dr. Gorhani, for advice 


2.00 




Barber, for Wood, 


19.25 


27. 


G. Child". & servant, 


5.75 


10. 


Family — oil, 


1.00 




Theatre — Grand daugh 






Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 




ters, 


7.00 




Mrs. Pease, 


3.82 


28. 


Barber, 


1.50 


11. 


Peter Rich, 


3.00 


29. 


Expenses home, 


3.25 


12. 


Meat, 


.67 


30. 


Mrs. Thomas, 
Freight from Boston, 


10.00 
0.37* 



392 American Antiquarian Society. 

in order to take passage for Europe — and intending to com- 
plete his studies, in Germany. 

14. Went to Church once. Rev. M r . Allen of North- 
borough preached. 

15. Began painting the Tan yard house. 

16. Moses Thomas & Daughter, visit. Mr. Samuel 
Armstrong & wife, Miss Rebecca Armstrong, & Mrs. Williams 
came from Boston on a visit. 

18. Mr. Armstrong & wife, & Mrs. Williams went to 
Boston. Frazer came up from Boston. 

19. Began painting the three story house, and the one 
north of it, — foot of Court hill. 

20. Rode as far as Millbury with Mrs. Thomas & Miss 
Armstrong. 

21. Have been very debilitated for some time past. 
Went to Church twice. 

22. Cut the grass in the back yard. Judge Bangs has 
been confined with the Gout for 3 weeks past. Let the 
small house to Eben r . Geer, — the house opposite to Williams 
— he moved in June 22 — at 35 or 40 dolls, per annum, I 
do not recollect which sum. 

24. St. John's Day celebrated at several places. Slaugh- 
tered a Calf. 

25. [Nathaniel] Curtis, of this town, died by suicide — 
hanging. A Woman at Ward destroyed herself, in like 
manner, last week. 

26. Went with Miss Rebecca Armstrong to Smithfield. 
Visited Mrs.Buffum, late Miss Anne L. Sheldon. — dined in 
Smithfield. Went with Miss Armstrong to Wrentham and 
Walpole. We lodged at Clap's in Walpole. 

27. Went with Miss Armstrong this morning to Jamaica 
Plains, where we breakfasted, at M l . John Andrews's. Went 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



393 



to Boston and in the afternoon to Dorchester to see Mrs. 
Andrews who was there with her little sick son. Bathed 
in the Sea, at Dorchester. Returned to Boston. My son 
and his wife went to Westborough today in a Chaise and 
returned to Boston this Evening about 10 °Clock. 

28. My much valued friend and Neighbour Judge Bangs 
died, unexpectedly, Sunday evening June 28, 1818, aged 
63 years. He had been confined for 3 weeks by severe 
gout. Continue to be greatly debilitated — my strength 
quite exhausted. Mrs. Thomas who has been unwell for 
3 months is mending in health. 

29. Sent Parker home with the horses and Carriage. 
Engaged M 1 '. Greenwood to take my Likeness. I sat at 
his request five weeks since, when he finished one for him- 
self. I sat again to-day for him to take one for myself. 
Sat 6 times for this last picture. 



July, 1818. 

1. First Green Peas from the Garden. Rode out to 
Dorchester with M 1 . E. T. Andrews, my son's wife, &c. 
The degree of L.L.D. was conferred on me at Allegany 



June 







Cash received. 








4. 


From the Bank, 


380.00 


25. 


Of Mr. Manning, 




15.00 


16. 


At the Bank. 


36.00 




Of Wm. Andrews, 




8.00 




Borrowed of Mr. Maccai 




28. 


Of my son, 




1.25 




ty. 


70.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 








4 


Worcester Turnpike as 




18. 


Market, 




0.75 




sessment, 


380.00 




Nails, 




1.00 


5. 


Sundries, 


0.75 


20. 


Anne, 




2.00 


8. 


Meat, &c, 


0.75 




Family, 




1.00 


10. 


Sundries, 


2.00 




Sundries omitted, 




150.00 


12. 


Sundries, 


1.50 


25. 


Mrs. Thomas, 




10.00 


15. 


Linseed Oyl, 


40.00 


27. 


Expenses on the 


road 






Sundries, 


1.00 




yesterday and to- 


day, 


6.50 


1(1. 


Paid Mr. Batman- 




29. 


Parker's expenses h 


ome 






Taxes, 


96.86 




with the carriage 




1.52 




Lamb & Beef, 


1.16 




Horses in Boston, 




5.74 


17. 


Sundries, 


1.00 


31. 


Mrs. Thomas, 




10.00 



394 American Ardiquarian Society. 

College, Pennsylvania, of which I was informed by a Letter 
from the President, dated July 2. This honour was unsol- 
icited, and certainly unmerited by me. 

2. Settled annual Account with my C oy . in Boston — 
no profit the year past. Loss above 5000 dollars. 

4. Attended the meeting of the G. Lodge at West 
Boston Meeting house, to lay the Corner Stone of the General 
Hospital, now erecting in Allen street, Boston. The Gov- 
ernor assisted. The Lt. Governor, Council, Officers of the 
Hospital, Selectmen, a large number of militia & civil 
Officers, and a great concourse of Citizens, escorted by the 
Company of Cadets, and another volunteer Corpse. The 
procession was very long. Not less than 500 Free Masons 
were present. Went with the legislative procession, &c, 
to hear the Anniversary Oration — In the Evening went to 
see the fire works in Vauxhall gardens. They were. not 
very splendid. 

5. Went to Church in the forenoon. Dined with M r . 
E. T. Andrews, and then went home in the Mail Stage. 

6. Begin to recruit my strength. Have been very 
feeble for five weeks past. Began to cut the Grass in the 
orchards and field. 

8. Incledon, 1 the celebrated Singer, with Brown and 
Taylor — from the English Theatres, performed in this town, 
this Evening, at Hathaway 's Hall. 



1 Charles Benjamin Incledon, a celebrated English tenor, began his musical career 
in 1771 when be was eight years old, as a choir boy in Exeter Cathedral. From 
1779 to 1783 he served in the British navy, and in 1784 he made his first public 
appearance at the Southampton Theatre, as Alphonso, in the Castle of Andalusia. 
From 1786 to 1790 he sang at Vauxhall Gardens in the summer and at Hath in the 
winter. In the latter year he appeared at Covent Garden, and for the next twenty- 
five years he w:i> unrivalled as a ballad singer. After a visit to America, in 1817, 
he left the stage, and travelled through Great Britain under the title of the "Wan- 
dering Melodist . " 

[Born, St. Kevern, Cornwall, 1763. Died, Worcester, England, 11 February, 1826. J 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 395 

9. Have 5 tons of Hay on the ground — rains just as it 
was going to be moved into the barn. Rode at 5 °Clock 
Morng. 

10. Got in 6 Loads of Hay. This is the first put in the 
Barn this season. 

11. 4 Loads of Hay. 

12. Mr. Wm. G. Goddard of Providence dined with me. 
First Beans from the Garden. Went to Church twice. 
M 1 . Wilson preached. 

14. Mrs. Thomas & Mrs. Bancroft went to Lancaster 
with Parker, in the Coach, & Parker returned with the 
Carriage. 

15. Anne went to Royalston. 

16. Antiquarian Society met by adjournment at their 
Library room. Had another faint turn, whilst in a Meeting 
of the Antiquarian Society. 

17. M r . Bridgham, late Att y . General of Rhodeisland, 
& Daughter, dined with me. Reaped Rye. 

18. Went to Lancaster, Sterling, &c, in the Coach, 
and returned with Mrs. Thomas who had been 4 days on 
a visit to my brother. We dined with my nephew in 
Sterling. 

19. Went to Church twice. 

20. Antiquarian Society met by adjournment. 

21. The Antiq 11 . Society met again by adjourn 1 . 

22. Court of Enquiry now sitting on the Conduct of 
Maj r . Gen. Burbank. 1 they met at Hathaway's in this town. 



1 Caleb Burbank, the son of Abijah and Mary Spring Burbank, was born in that 
part of Sutton, which is now known as Bramanville, Millbury, his father Laving 
come from Newbury, Mass., at some time previous to 1760, and settled on "Bur- 
bank Hill." 

31 May, 1775, a convention of delegates from towns in Worcester County voted, 



39(> American Antiquarian Society. 

23. Maf. Gen 1 . Crane 1 — Brig 1 . Gen 1 . Dearborne 2 & 
Lady — and Major Minot Thayer, called to see me. The 



"that the erection of a paper mill in this county, would be of great public advantage, 
and if any person or persons will undertake the erection of such a mill, that it be 
recommended to the people of the county to encourage the undertaking by generous 
contributions and subscriptions." Abijah Burbank responded to this appeal, 
although there is no evidence that any previous training had fitted him for such 
work. It was difficult to find skilled workmen at that time, but after months of 
labor he succeeded, in June, 1776, in producing a sample of ordinary, coarse paper- 
21 May, 1778. the Massachusetts Spy announced that "the Paper Manufactory 
at Sutton is now carried on to great perfection. The good people of this county 
are desired to be careful in saving their rags, as by that means the Paper maker will 
be enabled to supply them plentifully, with as good paper as can be made in the 
State;" and 11 June, Mr. Burbank advertised that he had secured a "Compleat 
Master of the art of Paper Making. " He built a two-vat mill at the outlet of Sin- 
gletary Pond, for which the power was furnished by a breast wheel, twelve feet 
in diameter. The rags were cut by hand on a scythe or long knife, fixed in a post. 
This was the first paper mill in Worcester County, and the seventh in the Common- 
wealth including two in Maine, which was then a part of Massachusetts. The five 
men and ten or twelve girls whom he employed could produce, in a day of fifteen 
hours, about two hundred and fifty pounds of paper. The greater part of this product 
was used in Central Massachusetts, and in portions of Rhode Island and Connecticut, 
regular trips being made through these sections to distribute the paper and to collect 
rags. Mr. Burbank furnished the paper used for the publication of the "Massachu- 
setts Spy," and for Mr. Thomas's business in Worcester, until the latter built his 
own mill at Quinsigamond. 

Caleb Burbank, who had served his apprenticeship with his father, succeeded 
to the business in 1783; and gradually, under his management, the capacity of the 
mill was increased, and the quality of the paper was improved. In 1798 he and his 
brother Elijah bought the Thomas mill, and operated it in connection with their 
business in Sutton; but he withdrew from this in 1811. He carried on the manufac- 
ture of paper for over fifty years, and acquired a large fortune, all of which he lost 
in the financial crisis of 1836. 

General Burbank early entered the militia, receiving his first commission as lieu- 
tenant, in 1790; and in 1813 he was commissioned major general of the seventh 
division. In 1818 charges of neglect of duty and unmilitary conduct were preferred 
against him, and in the court martial which followed, he was found guilty, cashiered 
and dismissed from the service. 

He married, 25 May, 1785, Lucy, daughter of Asa and Sarah Goodell Waters, 
of Sutton, who died in 1823; and later he married Hannah, daughter of David Smith, 
of Rutland, Mas> 

[Born, Suit. in, Mass., 18 July, 1761. Died, Millbury, Mass., 9 December, 1849.] 

1 Major-General Elijah Crane, of Canton. 

1 Brigadier-General Henry A. S. Dearborn, of Roxbury. 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



397 



gentlemen are Members of the Court of Enquiry above 
mentioned. 

24. Mrs. Staunton, Mrs. Bancroft and Mrs. Maccarty — 
visit. 

25. Finished getting in Hay. 

26. Went to Church twice. 

28. Anne returned from Royalston. My son came from 
Boston in the Stage. Spent the Evening at M r . Burnsides, 
many Ladies and Gentlemen present. Among the Gen- 
tlemen were Gen. Crane, Gen. Dearborn, jun 1 '., Gen 1 . Stick- 
ney 1 & Major Thayer. 

29. First Squashes & Cucumbers from the Garden. 

August, 1818. 

2. Went to Chh. twice. 

3. Thunder Gust — Heavy Shower — Lightning Struck 
a house in Mechanic Street. 

6. Mrs. T. wrote and was answered. 



1 Brigadier-General Benjamin 


Stickney, 


of Newb 


iry. 








Cash received. 




ily 2. 


Kent in Boston, 


125.00 


17. 


Rent of Artemas Ward, 


12.50 


6 


Of Thomas Robinson, 


20.00 


20. 


Interest — Reuben 




7. 


Of William Andrews, 


22.00 




Wheeler, 


26.50 


15. 


Of Pierce of West Boy 


- 


24. 


Lazell on his note, 


62.72 




ston, 


100.00 
Cash pa 


28. 
d away. 


Rec d . of Duncan, Rent 


10.00 


1. 


Calico, 


4.50 


13. 


House, 


0.87 


2. 


Lemons, oranges, nut- 




15. 


Postage bill. 


4.80 




megs, &c, 


3.50 


16. 


Sundries, 


0.50 




Smoked Salmon, 


2.25 


17. 


Sundries, 


0.50 


4. 


Children, 


.75 


21. 


Do., 


1.50 


5. 


Children & servants, 


5.75 


22. 


Minister's Tax, 


81.24 




Expenses home, 


3.25 


23. 


Butcher, &o., 


2.50 


6. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 


27. 


Family, 


3.00 


7. 


T. Stiles to buy Oil, 


40.00 


28. 


Anne, 


3.00 




Mending Clock, 


1.00 


29. 


Books, 


1.00 


9. 


Meat, 


0.80 


30. 


Tristram Stiles, 


50.00 


10. 


Salt for Hay, 


1.25 


31. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 



398 American Antiquarian Society. 

9. Went to Chh. twice. 

12. Mrs. T. and myself, took tea with Theophilus Wheeler 
Esq. & Lady — This is the first time I have taken [tea] 
abroad in Worcester for several years. 

16. Mrs. Seaver, and W 1 ". Andrews as usual dined with 
us. Went to Church twice. 

19. Finished Thrashing Rye — raised 47 bushels. My 
part delivered 23^ bushels. 

22. Renewed conversation with after a months 

silence. 

23. Miss Maccarty dined with us, and W. A. as usual. 
Went to Church twice. Mr. Packard 1 of Marlboro' preached. 

27. Frazer went to Boston in the Stage. Finished thresh- 
ing Oats — raised 46 bushels — my part delivered 23 bushels. 

28. Mrs. Frazer, alias Lawrence, our Housekeeper 
returned from Boston in the Stage. 

30. Went to Church twice. M 1 . Cotton of Boylston, 
preached & dined with me. Mrs. Seaver & W. Andrews. 






i Rev. Asa Packard, minister of the first church in Marlborough from 1785 to 1806; 
and of the second Church from 1808 to 1819. 



Cash received. 



Aug. 3. 


Rent from Mr. Rand, 


14.00 


14. 


Rent, Thompson's hous 


s 


6. 


Of Tho 8 . Robinson, 


11.00 




in Boston, 


125.00 


11. 


Of Newton & Tufst, in- 




17. 


Rent, Newbury St . 






terest, 


45 . 00 




House, 


70.00 








26. 


Store, of Will. Andrews 


, 20.00 






Cash pa 


d away. 






1. 


Family, 


1.00 




Paid for Family, 


2.50 


4. 


Do. Loaf Sugar, 


2.40 




Frazer, at twice, 


2.00 


5. 


For a small lot of Land 




19. 


Paid Gov r . Lincoln in 






from Hathaway ami 






full. 


6.75 




.•Hint her, 


50.00 


20. 


Deposited in the Wor- 




6. 


Familj . 


2.00 




cester Bank, 


200 . 00 


7. 


do., 


:; mi 


22. 


Meat, family, &c, 


3.25 


9. 


do.. 


1 .1)0 


26. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


5.00 


10. 


Postage for Letters sent 






Hannah Kinsley, 


3.00 




on, 


1 .89 


27. 


Frazer, 


8.00 


12. 


Howe & Smith, &c, 


2.00 


29. 


Family, 


3.00 


15. 


Deposited in Worcester 
Bank, 


125.00 









Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 399 

September, 1818. 

1. Packed up a box for my brother Peter on Long- 
island, containing sonic Clothes for his wife, which belonged 
to our late Sister, with other articles for himself and family, 
&c. 

3. D r . Bancroft & Lady, Mrs. Seaver &c. visit. Mr- 
Pliny Merrick dined. 1 

6. Went to Church twice. Mrs. Thaxter dined. 

S. Court Martial on Gen 1 . Burbank. 

12. Moses Thomas — very short visit. 

13. Went to Chh. twice. 

15. F. rather odd — especially today. 



1 Pliny Merrick, the son (if Plinj and Ruth C. Merrick, of Brookfield, Mass., was 
graduated from Harvard in 1S14, studied law with Levi Lincoln, Jr., and after his 
admission to the bar in 1817, practised for short periods in Worcester, Charlton and 
Swanzey, and in Taunton from 1820 to 1824; the last year as the partner of Marcus 
Morton. He was prosecuting attorney for Worcester county from 1824 until the 
division of the state into districts in 1832, when Governor Lincoln appointed him 
attorney for the middle district, comprising the counties of Worcester and Norfolk. 
In 1843 he was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, but resigned in 
1848 to accept the presidency of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. Two years 
later he was reappointed to the same court, and in 1853 was promoted to the Supreme 
Bench, holding this position until ill health compelled his retirement in 1864. 

Judge Merrick acquired a large practice, and his reputation as a criminal lawyer 
was not confined to his own state, but extended to the courts of Vermont, New 
Hampshire and Rhode Island. One of the most important trials in which he was 
retained was that of Dr. Webster for the murder of Dr. Parkman in which he was 
the Benior counsel for the defense. 

His time was entirely given to his profession, and with the exception of serving 
in both branches of the Legislature, he held no political office. lie was greatly 
interested in increasing th'e facilities for the higher branches of education, and 
bequeathed to the City of Worcester a considerable sum for the furtherance of that 

object. 

Judge Merrick was a member of the Hoard of Overseers of Harvard College from 
L852 t<> 1855, ami received the degree of LL. D., from that college in 1853. 

He married. 23 May, 1821, Mary Rebecca, daughter of Isaiah Thomas. Jr., and 
Mary Weld Thomas. 
[Horn.Hrookfield, 2 August, 1794. Died, Boston, 1 February. 1867.] 



400 American Antiquarian Society. 

16. Painted the back of the Wood house and the fence 
adjoining next the woodhouse. 

18. Painted the Trimmings to the front of the Stable 
and front of the Woodhouse; the Trimmings only. New 
laid all the Stone Slabs in the yard front of the House. 
These Stones were brought from Liverpool, in England. I 
bought them and first had them laid some j^ears ago. 
Mrs. Bancroft & Mrs. Seaver. 

20. Went to Chh. twice. 

21. .Mr. Johnson from Portland. 

22. Supreme J. Court. Moses Thomas & wife visit. 
Began to take up the flat Stones in the Road, front of the 
House, which were only 2 feet wide, and to replace them 
with stones 4 feet wide — and put those of 2 feet, in 2 rows, 
at each end. 

23. Gathered St. Michael Pears, also the russet Pears 
on the large Tree — all other Pears, excepting Buries, have 
been gathered. 

24. Mr. Johnson, who keeps my store in Portland, 
returned. Packed up for the Portland Store above 2000 
dollars worth of Books, at Retail prices. 

25. Supreme J. Court ended this day, Friday. 

26. Gathered in all the Bury Pears, and St. Michaels — 
Other Pears gathered some time since. Finished laying 
and relaying Flat Stones for Side Walk as far as the Court 
house — 4 feet wide. 

27. Went to Church twice. Mrs. Thomas so unwell as 
to be obliged to be taken Home from Church. Attended the 
funeral, from the south Church of two women who died 
in childbed. Mrs. Seaver as usual dined, also W. Andrews. 

30. Hannah Kingsley, our Cook, went home, on a visit 
to Royalston. Miss Lynde, M r . Bangs, W. Andrews &c, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 401 

to tea. Gathered in Indian Corn, and Potatoes from the 
Field. Sent 14 Volumes Spy to Philosophical Society, 
Phil a . — 14, to Historical 8°. N. York— 13 to Hist. S y . 
Boston — 14 to American Academy Arts & Sciences. 

Produce of the Garden this year. 

Asparagus, Beans, & Peas, green, Beets, Carrots, Pars- 
nips, Lettice, Peppers, Squashes, various kinds, Cucumbers, 
Raddishes and other vegetables, plenty for the Family's 
Use. 100 Savoy cabbages. 

Fruit : Strawberries plenty, Cherries, few. Green Plums 
very few — Peaches none — the trees did not blossom. 

Currants, a profusion — Gooseberries sufficient. 

Corn, various kinds (green) plenty. ' 

Pears, various kinds, 8 bushels at least, Apples, few, 
say 2 bushels, do in the Orchard, few, about 6 bushels. 
Red Plums, excellent, full 2 bushels. Quinces, \ bushel. 

Farm. 
Hay— (English) 21 Tons, my half, 10 J; Oats, 46 bushels, 
my half 23; Rye, 47 bushels, my half, 23£; Potatoes, 106 
bushels, my half, 53; Pumpkins, above 400, very good, 
my half, 200; Turnips, few, 6 bushels, my half, 3 bush.; 
Indian Corn about 30 bushels, my half 15; the worms 
destroyed more than half the Corn in the Stalk, when 6 
inches high. White Beans, 1 bushel, my half, \\ Corn 
fodder, one half; Straw, one half. 

James Williams has had the farm for the last 3 years to 
the halves. 

The greater part of the Corn after the planet appeared, 
was this year and the last, destroyed by worms. 

October, 1818. 

1. - Purchased rough Stone Posts for the Fence in front 
of the mansion house, and in Front of the Garden — they 
are to be cased with wood. 

26 



402 



American Antiquarian Society. 



2. Reputtied all the Windows in the small Warehouse 
— and had all the windows mended in several houses, where 
they were broken. 

3. My son's wife — visit — came in the Stage from Bos- 
ton. Corn husked — Training — Received one ton of Plaster 
of Paris. — Had an excellent Bass sent from Boston. 

4. Went to Church twice. Mrs. T. once. 

5. Dr. Bancroft and little daughter went with me 
to Westboylston. 

6. Mrs. T. rode out. Began putting Stone Posts to 
the front Garden Fence, and caseing them. 

7. Went to Boston, with my son's wife, in the Coach 
with Parker. My son & his daughter Maiy, came to Wor- 
cester. 

9. Sat with Greenwood to finish Picture, dined with 
Andrews. 

10. Dined with M 1 . Ewer — My son went home from 
Worcester. 



Sept. 







Cash received. 






1. 


Levi Lincoln, jun r ., pay- 


6. 


Of Wm. Andrews. 


10.00 




ment of Note, 


402 . 72 


11. 


Of Whittemoxe, 


37.00 


2. 


Tyler Goddard, pay- 




20. 


Portland Store, 


123.00 




ment of Note, 


10.55 


24. 


Cash of Johnson, pur- 




3. 


Thomas Robinson, 


16.00 
Cash pa 


d away. 


chase, 


75.00 


1 


Family, 


1.50 


22. 


Lent Dr. Fiske, 


100.00 


2. 


do., 


3.00 


23. 


Family, 


2.00 




Anne 4 dollars, Han- 




24. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


10.00 




nah Kingsley, 7 dols 


. 1 1 . 00 


25. 


Paid W. Dan' Knight, 


54.00 


4. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


16.00 




Wine, &c, 


3.50 


5. 


Dartmouth College, 


10.00 


26. 


Family, 


3 . 00 


6. 


Sundries, Family, 


1.00 




Frazer, 


1.50 


11. 


Mrs. Thomas, 


5.00 


27. 


Sent Beth Storrs, Esq 






1 lannali Kingsley, 


5.00 




Middlebuxy, Vermon 


, 2.00 




Anne, 


3.00 




Sent Justus Whitlaw, 




12. 


Family, 


1.25 




Esq'., Ryegate, do., 


1.50 


15. 


do., 


2.00 


29. 


Hannah Kinsley, 


2.00 


18. 


do.. 


2 . 00 




1 ton Plaster of Paris, 


10.00 


19. 


do., 


1 .80 




Teaming to Boston, 


3.00 


21. 


Paid M r . Hale for Week 
Messenger, 


y 
6.00 




Family, 


1 ,00 



Diary of IsaiaJi Thomas. 403 

11. Returned to Worcester; my son accompanied me. 

12. Rev. Dr. Bancroft & Wife went on a Journey to 
Vermont. 

14. My son returned to Boston. 

16. Unwell with a Cold. 

18. Mr. Nash preached and dined with us. 

20. Went off early this morning in the Coachee, with 
Parker — took M 1 . Knight with me — dined at Templeton— 
with Judge Paine who was there holding his probate Court. 
Lodged at Richardson's, in Fitzwilliam. 

21. Breakfasted at Keene. Supreme Court sitting- 
tarried there 2 hours. Arrived at Walpole at 2 °Clock— 
took lodging by invitation with Mr. Southworth — my 
former Landlord for several years; but is now a Storekeeper 
— put up my horses and Coachman with him. 

22. Disappointed in doing business — Gentlemen I wished 
to see all absent from home. 

23. Sent Parker to Alstead to request some men there, 
with whom I had business to come to me — they came — 
but little was done. 

24. Saw Whipple every day — but could do no business 
with him. M r . Field and other Gentlemen I wished to see 
did not arrive from Keene till this morning — Could do 
but little or no business with them — time and circumstances 
prevented — much disappointed — anxious to return home 
— Sat out at one °Clock with M 1 . Knight on my return- 
Mr. Southworth refused to take pay for my entertainment 
at his house; but I insisted and paid for the keeping of the 
Horses and Coachman. Lodged at Fitzwilliam. 

25. Sat out half an hour before day break— very cold — 
horses beards covered with isicles — breakfasted at Temple- 
ton — Arrived at home before Sundown. Found Mrs. T. 



404 American Antiquarian Society. 

much as' I left her — Mrs. Seaver has been with her during 
my absence — she went home after I returned. Parson 
Nash and daughter, — and two of Dr. Bancroft's daughters 
dined with my family today. Bragg, my former Coachman 
came to see me during my absence — I am told he wishes 
to live with me again. Wm. Andrews went to Boston 
last Wednesday. 

27. Wrote to James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Vermont, 
and sent to him deeds of Land in Victory, Warren Gore 
and Guildhall, to be recorded. 

28. Went to Boston with Parker in the Coachee on an 
Errand for Mrs. Thomas — arrive There at \ past 4. Moses 
Thomas at Worcester. 

29. Left Boston at l°Clock afternoon & rode 32 miles — 
lodged at Weatherby's in Harvard. My brother went to 
Worcester. 

30. Visited my Niece, Mrs. Parker about 9 °Clock this 
morning — Went to my Brothers— returned to Worcester 
accompanied by my brother's wife — Met my brother at 

Westboylston. 

31. Mrs. Thomas took to her Chamber. 

November, ISIS. 

1. Went to Church twice. Mrs. Nash, Mrs. Seaver, 
My brother's wife, and William Andrews, dined with me. 
Mr. Nash prayed with Mrs. Thomas after the Afternoon's 
service. Her Lamp of life seems to be nearly expired! 

2. The front only of the Garden fence finished this 
day. Mrs. Thomas had the 2 Vols, folio of the pulpit 
Bible, which she many years since presented to the 2 . 
Church rebound — they were once before rebound — She 
presented also to the 2 d . Church a large handsome 
silver cup— cost 31 dollars, and a very handsome Psalm 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



405 



Book. Some years ago she gave this Church a silver Tank- 
ard. 1 Wrote to my Nephew Isaiah, in Newyork. Sent 



i At the annual meeting of the Second Parish, 30 April, 1798, "The Rev d . M r . 
Bancroft in a Letter directed to the Clerk informs the society that M™. Thomas, 
Wife of Isaiah Thomas Esq r . has presented to him for the use of the pulpit an ele- 
gant Folio Bible in two Volumes bound in red Leather & Gilt. Voted, that Edward 
Bangs Esq r . be a Committee to wait vipon M". Thomas & present to her the thanks 
of this Society for her beautiful & valuable Donation. — 

Voted, that the Thanks of this Society be presented to Isaiah Thomas Ks<i r . for 
the expensive and valuable present of a Clock to be placed in the Belfry of the 
society's Meeting House." 







Cash received. 






Oct. 2. 


Rent, House in Thomas 




10. 


Rent of Ward, 


12.50 




Street in part, 


13.00 




Rent, Boston, 


125.00 


5. 


Rec . at Worcester Bank 




27. 


Of Wright, Goodenow & 




Dividend for myself 






Stockwell's Debt, 


ISO. 00 




325 dols., Mrs. T. 20., 






Deposit at Bank, 1150.00 




Miss Armstrong, 17.50 






West & Richardson, 






Miss Weld, 12.50, 375.00 




Note, 


206 . 00 




From Robinson, Nor- 






Borrowed, 


23.00 




wich, 


9.00 




Sundry Mrs. Frazer rec 


l 


8. 


State Bank, 36: Union, 
14; Loan Office, 204.68 


254.68 

Cash pa 


id away. 


of Wm. Andrews, 


4. 65 


1. 


Family, 


1.50 


16. 


Paid Interest on my sod 


's 


2. 


do. Diaper, 


5.25 




Notes to Mr Waldo, 






Bread Cloth, 


6.00 




by Check on Bank, 


135.00 


3. 


Sermons, 


1.00 


17. 


Anne, 2 dolls.. Family 






Oyl & Mrs. Thomas, 


3.10 




5 dols., 


7.00 


6. 


Family, Sundries, 


3.50 


18. 


Family, 


1.00 




Mrs. Thomas, bank div- 




25. 


Expenses of my Jour- 






idend, 


20.00 




ney to Walpole, 


16.50 


8. 


Family, in Boston, 


9.00 


27. 


Tristram Stiles, 


30.00 




Miss Weld, dividend, 


12.50 




Paid Rice for teaming, 


3. 37 J 




Miss Armstrong, do., 


17.50 


29. 


Paid for my son, on 




10. 


Expenses to & from Bos 






Note, 1536.00 




ton, Road, 


7.50 




Hannah Kingsley, 


7 . 25 




Horses & Coachman, in 






Frazer, 


1 . 1 ->i 




Boston, 


10.65 


30. 


Expenses to and from 






G. Children, &c, 


9.50 




Boston, 


8.90 


11. 


Postage bill, I quarter, 


8.55 




Parker, borrowed, 


0.40 




Deposited in bank, 254.00 




Family. 


3 . 00 


13. 


Meat, 


2.25 




My brother, 


3.00 




Mrs. Thomas, Loan in- 






Mrs. Parker. 


5 . 00 




terest, 


24.00 




Mary, do., 


1.00 




Cedar Timber, 


2.58 




Whittemore, 


2.50 




Paid Mrs. Thomas, bor- 






Sundries, paid by Frazei 


, 4.65 




rowed. 


10.00 




Postage paid this 
month, not included 
in the quarterly bill, 


6.50 



406 American Antiquarian Society. 

him an order for 30 dollars and Cash 15 dols. Wrote also 
to M r . David Carlisle respecting him. 

3. This night Mrs. Whittemore watched with Mrs. 
Thomas — hitherto we have done without excepting by 
Mrs. Frazer, our housekeeper. Exchange Coffee House 1 
burnt in Boston. 

4. Mrs. Seaver watched with Mrs. Thomas. Let part 
of the house Williams lives in to Kettle 2 the hatter at 35 
dolls per annum — rent semi-annually. 



'The Exchange Coffee House, in Congress square, which was opened in 1808, was 
intended to become the headquarters of the financial interests of Boston, which then, 
as now, centered around State street. It took two and one-half years to complete 
ths building, at the cost of nearly half a million dollars and it was the object of 
great local pride as being the finest hotel in the country. But it was far in advance 
of the times, and was an unsuccessful speculation from the first, floated for a time 
by the issue of worthless bills by a Rhode Island bank and ruined many of the 
mechanics who were employed in its construction. It covered an irregular tract 
of ground, measuring nearly thirteen thousand square feet, and was seven stories 
in height. The Congress street front, one hundred and thirty-two feet in length, 
was ornamented with six marble Ionic pilasters, and was crowned with a Corinthian 
pediment. On the ground floor a great central area, or court, forty by seventy 
feet, extending eighty-three feet to the roof, was lighted by a dome, and was sur- 
rounded by porticos of twenty columns on each floor, from which opened the 
rooms of the hotel. This was intended for the merchants exchange, and was supplied 
with all the principal American and foreign newspapers, a marine register and a 
record of important current events. It was never used for the purpose for which 
it was intended, however, as the merchants, from force of long habit, preferred 
to transact their business standing on the street, even in stormy weather. Con- 
nected with this area was a large coffee room, while above, in the part of the house 
devoted to the hotel was a dining room capable of seating three hundred persons, 
a great ball room and a masonic hall. 

Destroyed by fire 3 November, 1818, it was rebuilt in a less expensive manner, 
and was used for a tavern until 1853, when it was torn down, and the "City Ex- 
change" was built upon its site. The Boston meetings of the American Antiquarian 
Society were held there from 1812 to 1818, and from 1821 to 1836. 

-John Pierce Kettell came to Worcester from Boston in ISIS and opened a store 
for the manufacture and sale of hats, caps and furs, in a wooden building over Mill 
Brook at Lincoln square, where the Salisbury building now stands. Upon the com- 
pletion of "Goddard's How" (between School and Thomas streets) in 1829, he occu- 
pied one of its six stores; in 1S35 removed to the new Butman block; and finally, in 






Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 407 

5. Rode out with Mary Rebecca. Rather unwell. 
Bought 2 barrels Cyder at 3 dols per barrel. Hannah 
Hemmenway watched with Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Frazer 
unwell. Mrs. Paine, my esteemed friend, of Troy, Newyork, 
and her son in law, called to see me this Evening. — it is 15 
or 16 years since I have before seen her. Miss Lynde 
visits Mrs. Thomas daily. 

7. My brother's wife went home. Parker carried her 
in the Chaise to Sterling — Rev. Dr. Bancroft and wife 
returned from Vermont. Hannah Kingsley watched with 
Mrs. Thomas last night. Hannah Martin this night— both 
are our domesticks. 

8. Went to Church twice. Rev. Dr. Bancroft, Rev. 
M r . Nash, Mrs. Bancroft, Mrs. Nash and Mrs. Seaver, Miss 
Lynde, &c visited Mrs. Thomas. D r . Bancroft went to 
Prayer with her. 

9. Mrs. Thomas appears to be near to Death. Mrs. 
Geyer and Mrs. Whittemore sat up with her the last night. 
Mrs. Webb this night. 

10. Mrs. T. more comfortable two last Nights. Mrs. 
Seaver — visit. Mrs. Seaver watched with Mrs. Thomas. 

11. Burnt Chimnies — parlor — my room — South front 
Chamber & Kitchen. Mrs. Seaver continued her visit. 
Mrs. T. supposed to be dying. Watcher, Mrs. Brown — 
Extra Watchers, Mrs. Seaver, Mrs. Whittemore & Mrs. 
Frazer. 

12. Mrs. Thomas more comfortable. Mrs. Seaver went 
home. Mrs. Geyer watched with Mrs. T. I rode out with 
my Grand daughter Mary R. 



1843, to his last location at the corner of Main and Foster streets, which he 
occupied for thirty-one years. 

Mr. Kettell was twice married: to Maria Vose, of Boston, 29 October, 1820; and to 
Elizabeth F. Wheeler, of Boston, 19 October, 1831. 
[Horn, Boston. Mass, 16 .January, 1797. Died, Worcester. 21 May, 1874.] 



408 American Antiquarian Society. 

13. Mrs. Thomas very weak and low. Mrs. Buffum, 
late Miss Sheldon, called to see me. Mrs. Thomas not 
expected to live till morning. Watchers, Mrs. Frazer & 
my Grand daughter Mary ,R. 

14. Mrs. T. continues to be alive. I rode out. Hannah 
Hemmenwa)' watched with Mrs. T. 

15. Mrs. T. exceeding low. Four women with her all 
day and night. Mrs. Whittemore, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Geyer 
& Mrs. Frazer. Did not go to Church. Mr. Allen of Bolton 
preached also a missionary for the deaf & dumb institution. 
A collection, or Contribution for that institution. 

16. My truly dear and beloved Consort, departed this 
life, this day at 4 °Clock in the Afternoon, aged 67 years & 
5 months. ' Sent M r . Asa Geer express to Boston on this 
occasion. 

17. Many Ladies & Gentlemen called on me on the present 
mournful occasion — All our neighbors poor & rich have 
been very kind and attentive. Mrs. T. was greatly esteemed 
by all. 

18. My son, his Wife, their sons Wm. and Isaiah, and 
their Daughters, Frances, Augusta, Caroline and Hannah 
came up from Boston (Mary has been here 2 months) also 
M 1 . E. T. Andrews & Wife and M 1 . Sam 1 . Armstrong and 
Mr. Charles Ewer, came from Boston in 3 carriages, to 
attend Mrs. Thomas's Funeral. They all tarried with me. 

19. The remains of Mrs. Thomas were entombed. 

20. M r . Andrews and Wife, my Grandson William, 
two of my Grand daughters, M r . Ewer and M'. Armstrong 
returned to Boston. Visited the Tomb with my son and 
Grandson Isaiah, Mrs. Frazer & Mrs. Whittemore. Gave 
directions for closing the Tomb. 

21. My Son, his Wife, My Grand daughters Frances A.- 
Augusta, and Grandson Isaiah returned to Boston in a 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 409 

Coach. My Grand daughters Mary and Caroline remain 
with me. Paid Mrs. Thomas's Legacies, and her funeral 
Expenses chiefly. 

22. Went to Church twice with 2 of my grand daughters, 
Mr. Step". Soper, his son and sister Mehitable, came from 
Boston to see me, clad in garments of Mourning. Went 
to Church with us, and sat out on their return towards 
evening. Funeral Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bancroft. 

23. Paid the remainder of funeral Expenses. 

24. Visited the Tomb with Caroline. 

25. Went to Lancaster & Sterling with my grand daugh- 
ter Caroline, to see my brother and my nephew, — returned 
the same day — Called on Rev. Mr. Nash. 

26. Mary Rebecca and Caroline rode out. 

29. Went to Church twice, with my Grand daughters 
Mary R. and Caroline. 

30. Sent a quantity of the Pipsissaway by Mr. Darby, 
to my brother's wife who is afflicted with a Cancer in her 
breast. The Pipsissaway being highly recommended for 
that disease — but I have doubt of its affecting a cure. 

Mrs. Thomas disposed of her gold Watch, all her Rings 
& Jewels, and all her wearing apparel, which was very 
considerable and valuable, to her friends, and to my Chil- 
dren & Grand children by a written request to me. — These 
I have delivered agreeably to her request. — She also 
requested me to give 1500 dollars to Mary Rebecca, my 
grand daughter, my Grandson William and to my brother's 
wife, that is, to Mary Rebecca, 400 dols., William 800 dols 
— my brother's wife about 300 dols. that is the interest 
of 300 dols, during her Life, with the remainder after her 
decease to Mary Rebecca. She also desired me to give 
about 150 dols. more, in parts to sundry persons. All 
which I shall religiously fulfil. 50 dollars of the last men- 



410 American Antiquarian Society. 

tioned sum was to Rev. Dr. Bancroft. The 150 dols. I 
have already paid. The Gold Watch and several other 
valuables, given to Mary Rebecca. Nov r . 24, 1818. 

A number of Gentlemen have called on me since the 
decease of Mrs. Thomas. 

Expenses of Mrs. T's. funeral. 

Express to Boston, Horse & Man 10 . 

Mourning for my son's Wife & Children 200 . 00 



My daughter, &c. 




50.00 


Liquors, extra 




8.00 


Articles for myself, wanted only a 


few 




articles, having many articles on hand 


40.00 


Girls — in our employ 




8.00 


Andrew, black boy 




11.00 


Watchers (presents) 




20.00 


Men who put the Corpse in the Tomb 


4.00 


Hack hire from Boston 




20.00 


Do in Worcester, drivers only 




2.00 


Lads assisting in the family part of a day 


3.00 


Mason for work at the tomb 




3.00 


Coffin 




16.00 


Undertaker 3 hours & boy & horse 


for 




Hearse 




3.50 


Miss Bancroft's bill 




11.05 


Miss Waters do 




12.00 


Housekeeper, mourning 




25.00 


Mr. Sikes's bill 




28.00 


2 Bells tolling 




1.0 


Mr. Brooks 




0.0 


Provision family, extra 




12.00 


Engraving on Tomb Stone 




5.00 


New leading joints in the Tomb 




2.00 


Black bonnet &c for Mrs. Thomas of 






Lancaster 




5.00 


I. T. Soper 




5.00 


Sundries 




S.00 






$511.00 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



411 



December, 1818. 



1. Gave cheek on Bank for 50 dollars for my own use. 
Burned about 500 Letters which I had received during the 
course of a number of years, chiefly from my good friends 
Miss Armstrong and Miss H. Weld. Removed my Lodg- 
ing from the back South West to the front South East 
Chamber, where I usually sleep in Winter. 

3. Rather a solitary Thanksgiving day. Went to 
Church — Wm. Andrews dined. P.' Merrick from Swansey. 

4. My Coachman, Parker, and two of the Girls in the 
Kitchen went to a dance, and tarried all night. D l . Ban- 
croft, M r . Bangs, M 1 . Adams, principal of Andover Academy, 
Mr. Merrick, Miss Lynde the elder, and the younger, Mrs. 
Seaver, and others, called on us this afternoon and Evening. 
Gave 10 dols. towards Andover Academy. Have rather 
more Company than at this time is congenial to my feelings. 



Nov. 2. 







Cash received. 






2. 


Of M r . Manning, 


15.00 




Rent, Newbury Street 




3. 


Of Wm. Andrews, 


7.00 




House, 


50.00 


5. 


Of Wm. Andrews, 


10.00 


23. 


Interest of Goddard's 






Portland Store, 


226 . 00 




Bond, 


18.00 




Thomas Robinson, 


15.00 


24. 


From the Bank, 


20.00 


14. 


Of Wm. Andrews, 


1.00 


26. 


Of Wm. Andrews, 


1 .00 


15. 


Of do., 


5.00 


27. 


Kent of Store half a year 


, 2.92 


18. 


Rent of Mr. Thompson, 
Boston, 1 quarter, 


1 25 . 00 
Cash pa 


d away. 


Mr. Manning, 


5.00 


2. 


Butcher, 


1.00 


11. 


Family, 


3.00 




Sent my Nephew Isaiah 






do. Wine it brushes, 


3.00 




in New York an ordei 




12 


Liquors, 4.00, Apples, 






for 30 dollars and cash 


, 15.00 




1.23, 


5.23 


3. 


Butcher, &c, family, 


4.00 




Cheese, 


1.53 


4. 


Brandy, 75 ets., Sun- 




13. 


Family — Sundries, 






dries, 2, 


2.75 




Lemmons, Broom, 


0.95 


5. 


Butcher, 


4.00 


14. 


do. 


.35 




Sundries, family, oyl Ac 


. 2.00 


16. 


Asa Geer to go to Bos- 






Deposited at Bank, 


220 . 00 




ton, 


3.00 




Cyder, 2 barrels, 


6.00 




Sundries, 


2.00 


6. 


Butcher, — Broom, 


1.68 


23. 


Sundries, family, 


5.00 


7. 


Sundries, family, 


2.00 


24. 


Funeral Expenses, Mrs. 




9. 


do. do. 


2.00 




Thomas, 


511.55 


10. 


Mrs. T. 


4.50 




Repairing Clock, 


4.00 




Butcher, &c, 


3.00 


27. 


Family, 


3.00 



412 American Antiquarian Society. 

5. Dr. Bancroft and Lady, Mrs. Soever & Miss Murray 
from Lancaster, to Tea. Mr. Merrick. 

6. Went to Church once. 

7. Had Rev. D r . Bancroft's Sermon on the Death o 
Mrs. Thomas printed — 312 copies — to give away. 

8. Moses Thomas and Wife from Sterling, Visit. Killed 
a hog. 

9. Parker went to Lancaster. M r . Merrick returned 
home. 

10. Settled with and paid Hannah Kingsley her wages 
in full to this day. 

12. Settled with and paid our Housekeeper Mrs. Frazei, 
alias Lawrence. It being necessary for her to leave my 
family and attend to her own, she went for this purpose 
to Boston this day in the Stage. She is a truly useful 
woman, and was veiy serviceable in my family and ever 
attentive to me, and I Therefore parted with her with 
much regret, the more so as she faithfully attended Mrs. 
Thomas till her death. 

13. Went to Church twice. Horses in the Coach very 
unruly. 

16. On account of the Death of Mrs. Thomas, it became 
necessary for me to make a new Will, which having pre- 
pared, for Copying, E. D. Bangs, Esq. began it this morning. 

19. Executed my Will. It contains 43 pages. 

20. Went to Church twice. Mr. Allen of Northborough 
preached. 

21. Miss Lynde, fc Mr. Bangs, visit. 

25. Went to Church. Sermon at 1)'. Bancroft's Meet- 
ing. Dined with many other Gentlemen with the Sheriff, 



Diary of Isaiah Thomas. 



413 



at Sikes's — a handsome dinner and a very respectable 
Company — all dined on the Invitation of the Sheriff — 
Thomas Walter Ward, 1 Esq r . 

27. Went to Church twice. 

31. Agreed with Newton & Tufts for 100 Reams print- 
ing demy paper which they are to supply at 2.25 per Ream 
towards the interest due and to become due on their bond 
of 3000 dols. My Coachman Parker and the two Girls 



1 Thomas Walter Ward, the sod r.t Artemus and Sarah Trnwbritlge Ward, was 
a farmer, and spent his life on the family homestead in Shrewsbury, Mass. After 
serving as a deputy sheriff for seventeen years, he was appointed Sheriff of Wor- 
cester County in 1805. He was removed from office by Governor Gerry, in 1811, 
but was reappointed by Governor Strong in the following year, and served unti 1 
his resignation, in 1824. 

He married, 2S November, 1782, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth 
Henshaw Denny, of Leicester, Mass. 

[Born, Shrewsbury, 10 August, 1758. Died, Shrewsbury, 20 August, 1835.] 



Dec. 









Cash received. 






1. 


From the Bank, 




50.00 


5. 


Thomas Robinson, by 




2. 


Prom Win. Andrews 




10.00 




mail, 


19.00 


3. 


Received from Portland 




15. 


Of William Andrews, 


10.00 




Store, 




53.00 


19. 


Of Mr. Manning, 


6.00 




For Johnson note, 




75.00 
Cash pa 


25. 
26. 

d away. 


Rec d . of Mr. Waldo, 
Borrowed of Dr. Fiske, 


8.07 
8.00 


1. 


Family — Poultry, 




2.50 


15. 


Family, 


1.60 


2. 


Joseph Patch for Lumber, 23 . 00 


16. 


Loaf Sugar, etc., 


2.70 




Family, Pork and Poul- 






Subscription to Put- 






try, &c, 




7.50 




nam's Life, 


1.25 




Brandy & Charity, 




6.00 


17. 


Sugar, white. 


1.50 




Mrs. Waters, 




2.34 




Brandy iV- Spirits, 


1.50 


4. 


Charity, 




7.00 


20. 


Oyl, i gallon, 


0.50 




do. 




12.00 


21. 


Deed recorded, 


1.00 


5. 


Spirits, 




1.00 


23. 


Butcher, for meat, 


2.00 


7. 


Butcher, 




8.90 




Family, 


2.00 


8. 


do., 




.94 


26. 


Paid Hannah Martin, 


2.00 




Oyl, & killing Hog- 


-Salt 




Sundries, family, 


0.50 




for do. 




2.63 


28. 


Paid Danferth Abbot 




9. 


House, 




0.75 




for Stones, 


33.00 


10 


Hannah Kingsley in 

for wages, 


full 


15.00 


30. 


Family, 


1.00 



414 



American Antiquarian Society. 



in the Kitchen went again to a Dance, ball as they more 
politely term it. 



Gifts — 1818 — a very small part. 



Jan. 


1. 


Mrs. Pea.se, Sundries, 


3.00 




18. 


My brother, 


6.00 






Girls in the kitchen, do., 


2.50 




20. 


Sundries, 


4.00 






Andrew, 


0.20 


Aug. 


6. 


do., 


10.00 






Grand daughter Augusta 






13. 


do. Ch., 


12.00 






Linen, 


5.00 




16. 


do.. 


1.00 






Others, 


6.00 


Sept 


3. 


Miss Jane Aitkin, 






4. 


Contribution at Chh., 


15.50 






Philad"., 


20.00 




5. 


Am. Antiq". Soj. — books, 60.88 




5. 


Dartmouth College 






9. 


Charity, 


1.00 






Trustees, 


10.00 




15. 


Sundry small Gifts, 


8.00 




6. 


Ch., 


0.50 




22. 


Ch?., 


1.50 




8. 


do., 


0.50 




23. 


Dartmouth College Trus 








do., 


1.00 






tees, 


20.00 




19. 


do. sundry persons, 


1.00 




24. 


Ch J ., 


1.10 




26. 


Hist. So y . Mass. Books, 


60.00 




25. 


Ch*., 


.50 






do. Newyork, do., 


60.00 


Feb. 


7. 


Grand children, price of 








Academy of Arts & Sci- 








Linen, 


25.00 






ences, Boston, 


64.00 






Charity in Boston, 


20.00 






Philoso 1 . So y . Philadel- 








do. do., 


1.00 






phia, 


64.00 






Servants, 


1.00 






N. B. The above were 






10. 


Pease, Sundries, 
Sundries, Ch y ., 


2.00 
1.00 






files of Mass. Spy for 
30 years past, bound, 




Mar. 




Ch y ., 


0.50 






to each So y ., 






21. 


Ch y „ 


2.00 




29. 


Ch'., 


1.00 


Apr 


1. 


Ch y ., 


2.00 


Oct. 


10. 


G. Children — servant, 


7.50 




5. 


do.. 


7.00 




27. 


Mrs. Parker, cash, 5; 






14. 


Charity, 
Gifts, 


8.00 
30.00 






sundries, 4, 
My brother, Almks. & 


9.00 




22. 


My Brother, Cash & Sun- 








Cash, 


10.00 






dries, 


18.00 






Mrs. Parker, 


1.00 






Miss Sheldon, 


30.00 






Fraz., 


1.00 




28. 


Ch- V ., 


1.00 






Sundries to sundry peo- 




May 


6. 


Mrs. Pease, 


2.00 






ple, 


5.00 




7. 


My Niece, Mrs. Parker, 
Cash & Sundries, 


5.00 


Nov 


. 2. 


Sent my nephew, Isaiah, 
an order for 30 dollars 








Ch., 


1.00 






and Cash, 15 dollars. 


45.00 




19. 


Old friend, 


2.00 






Ch., 


2.00 






Sundries, Grandchildren, 


13.50 




5. 


Sundries my brother's 






27. 


Maid-servants — articles. 


1.20 






Wife, 


8.50 


June 9. 


George Bancroft, hooks 






9. 


Ch., 


.50 






to take to Europe, 


40.00 




14. 


Ch., 


.50 




17. 


Fra., 


6 00 




21. 


I T. Soper, 


5.00 




20. 


Ch., 


4.00 




28. 


Ch., 


2.50 




25. 


do., 


3 . 00 


Dec 


2. 


Ch., 


5.50 




26 


Several Articles of some 
value to my brother 






4. 


Ch., 
tadover Academy, 


2 . 00 
10.00 






on Long Island 






9. 


Ch., 


1 .50 


July >. 


Sundries, 


2.00 




13. 


Leicester Academy, 


25 00 




1 


. Children, &c, 
Sundry persons, 


6.00 
20 00 




22. 


Ch., 


0.50 



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